Prince Harry made a touching gesture to Princess Charlotte moments before they said their final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II at the late monarch’s committal service. The Duke of Sussex was sat next to his niece for the sombre occasion, with Harry and Charlotte sharing an emotional exchange.
Footage shows Charlotte re-arranging her hat just before looking towards her uncle Harry, who briefly glances up, catches his niece’s eye and smiles at her. Charlotte and her brother, Prince George, attended the committal service and State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, where 2,000 people gathered to mark the late Queen’s passing.
Prince William and Princess Kate flanked George and Charlotte, who it had been decided should attend while younger brother Prince Louis remained at home. Kate held Charlotte’s hand as they took part in a procession, with the State Funeral ceremony held at the Abbey and the Committal Service taking place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. At one point as the late Queen’s coffin was carried past the younger Waleses, Charlotte could be seen prompting her older brother to bow, which he swiftly did.
Ahead of the service, Harry lined up outside the chapel with King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, William and Peter Phillips, following the coffin into St George’s in a show of unity. Since the death of Britain’s longest-serving monarch, relations between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Royal Family have become even more strained after several claims and allegations were made by Harry and Meghan towards the Windsors.
Royal commentators have claimed Harry is not only estranged from his brother but also from the Waleses’ children. Royal author Tom Quinn told the Mirror Harry has become completely estranged from George, despite them both sharing similar interests. William has said George is a potential pilot in the making, following not just in his father’s footsteps but also Harry’s.
Mr Quinn told the Mirror: “William’s hints that his son George might follow in his footsteps and become a pilot will certainly remind Harry of everything he is missing. “After all Harry was himself a helicopter pilot and would love to entertain his nephew with tales of his own time in the air. “It’s a sad reminder that he has no relationship at all with George.”
