Royal Reunion? Prince Harry and William Expected to Attend Duchess of Kent’s Funeral
On September 4, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, passed away peacefully at Kensington Palace at the age of 92. She was the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the late Queen Elizabeth's first cousin. The Duchess shared a close bond with Prince William and Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and expressed her condolences when she passed away in a car accident in 1997. Considering Katharine's sisterly bond with Diana, it is speculated that William and Harry may attend her funeral, giving them another opportunity to reconcile.
The Duchess of Kent will have a Catholic funeral at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, following her conversion to the religion in 1944. Senior royals such as King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to attend, and members of the royal family will dress in black to honor her during the mourning period. HELLO! reports that William and Kate Middleton are likely to attend the funeral along with Harry, who may also choose to pay his respects, considering Katharine's bond with Diana.
The Duchess of Kent had spoken warmly about the late Princess of Wales on many occasions. In 1997, she told The Telegraph, "I was part-mentor, part-older sister to Diana, guiding her on minor matters of protocol and putting her at ease in a milieu where formality was prized above spontaneity. I understood the difficulties as well as the advantages, and we kept in touch through thick and thin." She added of William and Harry, "[Her death] was very hard on William and Harry. I don't think people realise how very tough it is being in the public eye, especially at a time like this. But these boys have a lot of support, and they will cope, as other children who lose their mothers cope."
The late Duchess had attended both William's and Harry's weddings, a rare appearance as she had stepped back from public duties in 1996. Harry also has a poignant connection to Katharine, as she, too, relinquished her HRH title for a more private life, much like him, making his attendance more probable.
After her passing, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a heartfelt message which read, "Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas. The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family."
As for the long-standing rift between William and Harry, the brothers' relationship remains fractured after the Duke's many damaging accusations against the royal family in interviews. Despite Harry being in the UK and attending the WellChild Awards, only eight miles away from William, a meetup did not take place. Royal watchers can only wait and see if the feuding brothers will finally bury the hatchet during the Duchess of Kent's memorial.