Prince William and Prince Harry will not walk side by side during their funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip, the royal family has confirmed.
The cousin of the brothers and sisters, Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, will walk between them during the funeral procession to the St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, reads a statement from Buckingham Palace.
During a second march, William (38) and Peter (43) will walk shoulder to shoulder, followed by Harry (36) and David Armstrong-Jones (59), the son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.
Once they are in the chapel, they will not get much closer because participants will sit six feet apart, according to the COVID-19 guidelines.
The march order was “a practical change rather than sending a signal,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
‘It’s a funeral and we’re not going to be affected by perceptions about drama. The arrangements have been agreed and represent the wishes of Her Majesty, ”the spokesperson said.
Only 30 close friends and relatives may enter the chapel for the Duke of Edinburgh’s royal funeral. The public was also advised to ‘stay away’ from the site and instead express condolences, reports The Independent.
Insiders say there is hope that the brothers’ grief will help them restore their once close bond and eventually discuss their downfall.
“Both are fully aware of their shared history and will no doubt remember the impact their grandfather had on their growing up years,” a royal source told The Mirror last week.
“There is hope in an occasion like this, where the brothers are united in sorrow, that a corner may be turned.”
That would be appropriate because Philip was ‘upset’ about the failure of his grandsons and tried to reunite them, the newspaper source claimed.
Philip “urged them both to bring their differences to rest, and not only to remember their bond, but also to consider their duty to the Queen and the country,” the Mirror source added.