Prince William and Harry "did NOT have a heart to heart but had a glass of champagne together" after unveiling Diana's statue
PRINCES William and Harry were NOT heart-to-heart after unveiling the statue in honor of their mother, Princess Diana, it has been reported.
But the conflicting brothers are said to have had a glass of champagne together after the event at Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.
The couple laughed and joked together as they came face to face for the first time since Prince Philip's funeral in April.
Unveiling the statue, the brothers said, “Every day we want her to be with us again, and our hope is that this statue will be seen as a symbol of her life and legacy forever. "
The Dukes appeared close on Thursday afternoon - giving millions of people hope that their feud may now be behind them.
But sources told the Daily Mail that Harry was greeted by James Holt, a former Kensington Palace press secretary and now executive director of the Sussexes ’Archewell Foundation, not William.
BROTHERS REUNITED
Harry arrived at 1:32 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony in a chauffeured car.
The brothers entered the Sunken Garden together, the Duke of Sussex clapping his hands in anticipation as he approached the statue.
They were greeted by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, their former private secretary, who is Prince George's godfather.
The two were holding the green curtain draped over the memorial and William asked "ready?" Before synchronizing it to reveal the touching work.
Timeline of the day
How the unveiling of the statue in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales went
1:32 p.m .: Prince Harry arrived in a chauffeured car through the gates of Kensington Palace.
2:00 p.m .: The princes entered the garden shortly with former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton as other guests lined up.
The statue of their mother Princess Diana is then unveiled.
Harry and William paused for about two minutes alone to admire the work before being joined by the other guests - and continued to chat warmly.
They spent a total of about six minutes with the statue.
2:45 p.m .: The event concluded with a champagne tasting in the pavilion at Kensington Palace.
3 p.m .: The two brothers stayed in the gardens until this time.
3:05 p.m .: Prince Harry is kicked out of the palace gates.
Prince William motioned for his brother to finish and put the blanket back on as the small group of friends and family gave a brief applause.
Wills was standing with his hands clasped in front. Harry put his hands on his hips - before turning and opening his arms, talking to his brother again, and taking several steps closer.
William responded briefly and kept his eyes on the statue as Harry gave him a broad smile.
They paused for about two minutes alone to admire the work before being joined by the other guests - and continued to chat warmly.
They spent a total of about six minutes with the statue - commissioned in 2017 - which they signed earlier this year.
A round of applause echoed through the garden - a favorite spot for Princess Diana - as the statue was shown for the first time.
The brothers have barely spoken to each other since last year's Megxit.
And their relationship has deteriorated following a series of explosive statements about the royal family made by the Sussexes during their interview with Oprah.
Guests sipped champagne on the outdoor patio of the Kensington Palace Pavilion after the unveiling.
Harry is believed to have stayed for a drink after the event ended at 2:45 p.m. - but was kicked out of the palace gates at 3:05 p.m., the Mail reports.
Earlier, he joked with his mother's siblings, kissing his aunt Lady Sarah McCorquodale on both cheeks before performing two more mock kisses as she waved her finger at him.
'ICON'
He also laughed when he saw his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and his uncle Earl Spencer.
The Covid restrictions meant that only 13 guests were allowed in Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden, and the princes' only parents were on their mother's side.
Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley's works can now be found in the Sunken Garden, a place Diana loved and now boasts over 4,000 individual flowers.
The artist said Diana "was an icon who touched the lives of people around the world, so it has been a privilege to work alongside Prince William and Prince Harry".
In a joint statement subsequently released, the brothers said: “Today, on the occasion of our mother's 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character - qualities that made of her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.
“Every day we want her to be with us again, and our hope is that this statue will be seen as a symbol of her life and legacy forever.
“Thank you to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to everyone around the world who keeps our mother's memory alive. "
Diana's bronze monument with her arms around two children followed by another little boy is 1.25 times the size.
It is engraved with the words: "These are the units to measure this woman's worth as a woman regardless of her birth."
"No what was his station?" But did she have a heart? How did she play her divine role? "
Harry and William chose some of Diana's favorite flowers to plant near the statue, including 100 forget-me-nots, 200 roses, 300 tulips and 500 lavender plants.
The statue was unveiled on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday.
It portrays the princess with cropped hair, whom she had during the last period of her life before her tragic death at the age of 36.
Diana was traveling through a Paris tunnel with Dodi Al Fayed on August 31, 1997, when her car crashed.
Prince William was 15 and Harry was only 12 when their beloved mother was killed.
