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Lord Robert Fellowes passed away one week ago. Fellowes was well-connected to the Windsors and he was QEII’s private secretary in the ‘90s. He was also married to Lady Jane Spencer, one of Princess Diana’s two sisters. Meaning, Robert Fellowes was Prince Harry and William’s uncle. It took maybe 24 hours after Fellowes’ passing for the royalist media to speculate about whether Harry would come back to the UK for his uncle’s funeral. It’s been a week – surely, the funeral has already happened? Well, the Mail has an update on whether Fellowes’ death will lead to reconciliation between Harry and William (spoiler: nope).
Prince Harry has spoken to his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes following the death of her husband Robert Fellowes. The royal, who has remained close to his late mother’s side of the family, is said to have reached out to Princess Diana’s older sister, according to US media. Harry, 39, has also spoken to his uncle Charles Spencer as well as his cousins, according to Us Weekly.
Lord Robert Fellowes, who was Princess Diana ‘s brother-in-law and Queen Elizabeth II ‘s private secretary died this week aged 82. It’s believed Harry may return to the UK for his uncle’s funeral, which will likely see him coming face-to-face with Prince William.
One friend of the royal told the Daily Beast: ‘In normal times it would be unimaginable that Harry would not be there to support Jane. Of course he would want to be there. It will be a huge gathering of the Spencer clan. But these are not normal times and it may well be that everyone feels Harry’s attendance would just create too much drama. It will be very sad for him if he can’t make it’.
Another royal expert told the Mail that the death is unlikely to bring the feuding brothers together. Royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline that the loss of their uncle will not be enough to bring the warring princes back together.
‘Robert Fellowes’ death will not affect family dynamics,’ he said. ‘Prince William and Prince Harry have always been on good terms with their late mother’s sisters and brother. Apart from offering what will undoubtedly be their heartfelt condolences to their aunt Jane, the two royal princes will experience little if any effect from their uncle’s death.’
Mr Cole added: ‘And it is certain that they will express their sympathies separately, and strictly so, such is the gulf that has opened up between them in recent years, compared with which the Gulf of Mexico is a mere puddle.’
It’s actually notable to me that the royalist media has given no energy to “how did William react to Fellowes’ death?” It’s been all about Harry, will Harry go to the funeral, did Harry contact his Spencer relatives, will Harry “use” his uncle’s death to reconcile with William, etc. If William couldn’t even make it to his godfather’s memorial service IN WINDSOR, my guess is that William won’t attend his uncle’s funeral. Please, William would have to take a day out of his summer holiday. He would never! Unless Harry is coming back for the funeral, in which case William would absolutely make a huge stink about “ordering” Harry to stay away.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.
The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024523, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024523, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
(left to right) Guy Monson, a member of the statue committee, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and garden designer Pip Morrison, during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of the Dukes’ mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024558, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
(left to right) The Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and garden designer Pip Morrison, during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of the Dukes’ mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024585, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
Earl Spencer is greeted by his nephews the Duke of Cambridge (right) and Duke of Sussex (left) as he arrives for unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024740, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
The Duke of Sussex with his uncle Earl Spencer, at the unveiling of a statue of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday.,Image: 619146847, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon
