S Poddar
Prince William and Prince Harry joined forces on Thursday, when they jointly attended a memorial service given to their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in St. Mary’s Church, Snettisham, Norfolk. The service was held near the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, steeped in family history.
Harry flew back from his home in America to join his brother for this milestone family occasion. An attendee at the service has confirmed both brothers were in attendance, which is rather rare for the two to be seen together as of late, amid a conflict within the family.
One church warden, who did not want to be named, said: “It was great that both princes were there in attendance at their uncle’s memorial service yesterday at St. Mary’s Church. The service was a beautiful family affair in celebration of such a unique man. A great number of friends were present too, as well as many members of the St Mary’s Church community.”
Still, with the family-oriented atmosphere in the air, the princes reportedly kept their distance from each other. According to the Sun, the two weren’t seen speaking with one another during the service-a reflection of the ongoing rift that has strained their relationship in recent years. It is the first time Prince Harry and Prince William have been seen together in the UK since 2023.
The Duke of Sussex had already traveled to the UK in February to visit his father, King Charles, and visited again in May for the Invictus Games-an international sporting event for wounded and ill members of the armed forces and veterans. The earlier visits did not include any public appearance with Prince William.
Representatives for Kensington Palace and the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented, either on the memorial service or whether the brothers will attend.
The late Lord Robert Fellowes was married to Princess Diana’s sister Lady Jane Spencer for over four decades. He has three children with her and is a favorite uncle for both Prince William and Prince Harry. He also is a cousin to Ronald Ferguson, who is the father of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
Very few men have reached the position that Lord Fellowes has enjoyed within the royal household. Indeed, from 1977 through to 1999, he was a member of Queen Elizabeth II’s private office, rising to the pinnacle as private secretary, the highest-ranking position in the monarch’s household. His time in office saw the most turbulent years that befell the house of Windsor, including the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992; the vehemently publicized divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1996; and the sad death of Diana in 1997.
Lord Fellowes’ life and career were also immortalized in the popular Netflix series *The Crown*, in which so many of the most momentous events in the recent history of the British monarchy were enacted.
His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
