Harry, Meghan join William and Kate on a walking tour of crowds near Windsor Castle – National | Globalnews.ca

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan joined William and his wife Kate on a tour of crowds near Windsor Castle on Saturday after the death of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth, raising the prospect of a rapprochement between the brothers.

King Charles’ two sons, who were once so close following the death of their mother Diana in a car crash in Paris in 1997, have fallen out in recent years after Harry and Meghan gave up their royal titles to move to the United States draw states.

The couple had been in the UK on a brief visit when the Queen, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, died on Thursday.

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Like other senior members of the royal family, Harry rushed to be at the Queen’s side as she deteriorated at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and a spokesman for the heir to the throne said William had extended an invitation to the Windsor walk.

A royal source described it as an important sign of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family. They came out of the same car, all dressed in black.

The two couples didn’t interact much during the 40-minute walk near one of the Queen’s favorite English homes, as they stopped to read messages left among the flowers and to chat with the thousands of people making the Long Walk lined up, shaking hands and chatting with them.

“I think that really just kind of draws a line under what happened historically and it’s a really strong sense of unity I think for the royal family. It was really nice to see,” said Raj Kaur, 41, who was in the crowd.

At one point, Meghan was hugged by a woman in the crowd while others reached out to shake hands and speak to the four royals in the early evening. William spent some time bending down and chatting with children while Kate and Harry accepted flowers and messages of encouragement from those in the crowd.

Royal observers had been looking for signs of relaxation amid the pomp and ceremony of Elizabeth’s state mourning and funeral.

On Friday, Charles used his first address to the nation as king to express his “love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad.”

CONTINUE READING: Queen Elizabeth’s death: what’s next for Canada’s 10-day mourning?

He also bestowed on William and his daughter-in-law Kate the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales previously held by him and his late wife Diana.

William was heard telling a well-wisher that the days after the Queen’s death had been “so surreal”.

“We all thought she was invincible,” he said.

When asked by another in the crowd how his children George, 9, Charlotte, 7, and Louis, 4, who were all starting at a new school on the day the Queen died, were doing, he replied: “The children are alright. Thanks. you are good Not ideal for starting new schools when everything happens.”

Under royal rules, the monarch’s grandchildren are automatically entitled to become princes or princesses of the realm. Now that Harry’s father, Charles, is king, his children Archie (3) and Lilibet (1) can receive these titles. Lilibet was named after the Queen’s childhood nickname.

It is not clear if they will take the titles.

“Right now we are concentrating on the next 10 days. As soon as we receive information, we will update the (royal) website,” a spokesman for Charles told reporters.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Michael Holden in London and Peter Nicholls and Hanna Rantala in Windsor; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Mark Potter)