Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, Prince William and Harry still estranged but side by side for Queen

LONDON: Princes William and Harry and their wives Catherine and Meghan – once dubbed the “Fab Four” – walked together behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin on Monday, just as the royal siblings did for 25 years. What did he do for his mother, Princess Diana?

But with Harry’s memoir next year and behind-the-scenes rows over alleged military uniforms and titles for his and Meghan’s children, the couple seemed as distant as ever.

The brothers did their duty, walking alongside their father King Charles III and other senior members of the royal family as their grandmother’s coffin was carried into Westminster Abbey.

William wore a military uniform. Harry, who has been banned from doing so since giving up his life as a working royal, was dressed in a morning suit with his medals affixed.

As the coffin was carried into the abbey, Harry stood with his eyes downcast as other family members in military uniforms saluted.

William told mourners last week that walking behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday brought back memories of his mother’s funeral procession when he was 15.

But if that painful shared experience was in their minds, there was no outward acknowledgment of it.

At the entrance to the abbey, the siblings, once close enough to finish each other’s sentences, were accompanied by their wives, William and Catherine’s two eldest children, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven. , were included.

– Interactions? –

The four, who were seen as the future of the monarchy until they fell, walked up the aisle behind the casket and sat apart.

William and his family sat in the front pews with his father and his siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward.

Harry and Meghan, known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, sat in the second row with their cousin Princess Beatrice directly behind the King and Queen Consort.

There had been speculation that Harry would be allowed to wear a uniform for the funeral after he appeared dressed in blues and the uniform of the Royal Cavalry Regiment in a vigil alongside the Queen’s coffin on Saturday evening. Perform services.

It appeared to be the latest olive branch extended by the king to her and Meghan.

Harry has served two tours with the British Army in Afghanistan, but strict protocol reserves military dress for working royals on such occasions.

This has left Harry in a difficult position since he ended his royal duties to relocate to North America in 2020.

In an interview with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, Meghan accused a member of the royal family of being racist.

He also accused Kate of making him cry and palace officials refusing to help him when he felt suicidal.

The couple’s frosty relationship is a far cry from the days when they were hailed by the British media as the “Fab Four”.

Two days after the Queen’s death, public hopes of an end to the damaging rift were also raised when the couple appeared outside Windsor Castle for a surprise walkabout.

Sources have told the Daily Mail, however, that there has been “no meaningful rapprochement” so far.