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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

William and Harry's rift 'has not healed' but they will put on 'united front' for Diana

Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship has not yet fully healed, but they will not let the rift interfere with their plans to honour their late mother, a royal expert has claimed.

Despite being extremely close growing up, insiders have claimed Harry's decision to quit the royal family and move to LA with Meghan Markle and Archie left William upset and angry.

But while the families reconnected in 2020 after their dad, Prince Charles, got Covid, the author of Finding Freedom claims the rift is not yet over.

Speaking to OK magazine, Omid claims that while they are taking steps in the right direction they are not there yet, however the brothers will put on a united front as they reunite to unveil a statue of Princess Diana in summer.

The brothers have been planning and overseeing the design of the statue for years, and it is very much a joint project.

The new statue of Princess Diana will be near her old London home (Getty)

Omid said: “No matter what has happened between them, they would never let anything stand in the way of this.

“It would be wrong to say their relationship is healed, but 2020 forced them to have many conversations."

He explains that Charles and William's Covid diagnoses and Meghan's miscarriage were among the things that brought the brothers back together.

He adds: "The focus on family pushes them forward and while progress with their healing is still minimal, it’s moving in the right direction.”

Speaking about the statue unveiling, Omid points out that Harry and William know that all eyes will be on them.

He claims they are determined not to let "what has happened in the past between them overshadow her memory" and says they will ensure they "put on a united front".

The brothers were very close growing up (PA)

William and Harry have commissioned the statue, which will sit in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace, where Diana lived before she died and the Cambridge family's current home.

The statue was first announced in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of her death, but while the creation progressed the installation was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The unveiling date has now been set as July 1, 2021 - what would have been Diana's 60th birthday.

Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale joined Harry and William on a committee, along with three others, to pick a sculptor for the piece.

Speaking when the statue was first announced, a source close to the Palace said: “Prince William and Prince Harry have dreamed of doing this for a long time.

"They were both just boys when their mother passed away, but are both now fully grown men and want to honour her in the best way possible.

"It has taken 20 years for this to finally come to ­fruition so they are determined it will be a lasting and fitting legacy in what is their official London residence and a place special to them both."

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