What Will Actually Happen During Prince Harry and Prince Williams Upcoming Reunion?
On Thursday, Prince Harry and Prince William will unveil a statue in honor of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Though the ceremony in Kensington Palaces Sunken Garden has been nearly five years in the making, many of the plans for the event are still under wraps. At first, the ceremony was expected to include 100 spectators, but concerns over a new wave of COVID-19 have caused them to scale back the guest list. The Telegraph reports that members of Dianas family will attend, along with sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley and garden designer Pip Morrison. Because the event will be the brothers first face-to-face encounter since Prince Philips funeral in April, royal insiders have been trying to game out the chances that they will be able to reunite peacefully after a rift that has reportedly gone on for years. Though William and Harry are planning to deliver two separate speeches at the event, a source told Vanity Fair that the brothers had agreed to a truce before the ceremony. What you will see is a carefully choreographed show of unity for that day, at least, the source said. Despite any agreement between the brothers, royal circles are still anxious that their hard feelings might overshadow the day, according to the Times. On the day, it will be difficult to separate the statue from the occasion, which is now loaded with all sorts of unwelcome baggage, a source told the newspaper. Another source told the Times that Harrys raft of public comments over the last few months, including the March interview with Oprah Winfrey and his documentary about mental health, are still a sore subject for William. William is still angry about it, says a close friend of both brothers. Its despair, as well as anger.  According to royal biographer Robert Lacey in the Daily Mail, any potential for a reunion is complicated by the fact that immediately after Philips funeral their last conversation devolved into an argument. There they were, at each others throats as fiercely as ever, a friend of the brothers told Lacey. The rage and anger between those two has grown so incredibly deep. Too many harsh and wounding things have been said.  One name on the guest list is seemingly still up in the air. On Sunday, the Telegraph, reported that aides agonized over whether Kate Middleton should attend the ceremony, concerned that Harry might feel outflanked by her presence amid the brothers continuing tensions. When they speak to the Duke he says one thing, and they think theyve made progress and then he speaks to the Duchess and they feel theyre back to square one again, an aide told the newspaper. Its a really tricky situation theyre trying to balance here.  According to a friend of Kates who spoke to the Telegraph, Kate is less concerned with the specifics of the argument between the brothers. The Duchess hasnt said much about Oprah at all, the friend said. I think the bridesmaids dress comments were the least of anyones worries. And shes not really the type to get het up about these sorts of things. Shes just trying to help to bring the family back together and alleviate her husbands stress and sadness.  Ultimately, the ball might be in Williams court. The question for the Duke is whether he is able to override the short term pain and damage to get back to the place he once was with his brother, Kates friend added. Its very difficult when the trust has basically gone.  According to the Times, friends are not hopeful that the pair will be able to sort out their issues this time around. Neither are offering an olive branch, a close friend of both brothers told the newspaper. I fear it will be the same as at Prince Philips funeral, a nod of recognition, and thats about it.  On Friday, Harry reportedly arrived at Frogmore Cottage, his homebase in the U.K. where he will self-isolate before the ceremony. Because Harry is traveling without his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lili, the trip is reportedly going to be a short one. According to the Telegraph, William will take his three children to visit the garden before the statues official unveiling, and the brothers will also be able to have a private moment before the ceremony. More Great Stories From Vanity Fair   A Messy Vaccinated Wedding Season Has Arrived   How Harry and Meghan Decided On the Name Lilibet Diana   Black Joy Comes to Shakespeare in the Park   Even More Kanye West and Irina Shayk Details Emerge   The Bennifer Story Really Does Have Everything   Ahead of the Diana Tribute, Harry and William Are Still Working On Their Relationship   Tommy Dorfman on Rewriting Queer Narratives and the Smell of Good Sweat   From the Archive: A Spin on the Top DJs in the World   Sign up for the Royal Watch newsletter to receive all the chatter from Kensington Palace and beyond.