Reports claim that Prince William name-checked Prince Harry as he thanked his friends at an intimate reception celebrating the unveiling their mother’s statue.
The 39-year old heir is believed to have spoken on behalf himself and the Duke Of Sussex, 37, at the event held at Kensington Palace.
Prince Harry flew to Britain from Santa Barbara in California for the statue unveiling in July.
He was unable to attend the private reception at the west London palace, which was held to express gratitude to friends and donors.
Sources claim that Prince William thanked guests at a private reception last week for their support. He said that the brothers were ‘both happy with the statue’.
A source told the Sun Prince William said the brothers were ‘both happy’ with the statue: ‘It was very intimate and sweet.
They stated that there was a family feeling because many of Diana’s 17 godchildren were there.
“William gave a wonderful speech thanking Harry and Harry for the statue and how happy they were. He even mentioned Harry by name.
“The brothers are not able to communicate, but it is clear that the Princess Di statue has done some good.”
Tensions between the brothers have been high since Megxit’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, but Megxit’s statue offered an opportunity to rekindle them.
Prince William and Prince Harry in the unveiling of the statue they commissioned of Diana, Princess of Wales at the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace
Prince Harry flew back with his wife Meghan, 40 to the unveiling at Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, on July 1 – which would have been Diana’s 60th birthday.
Kate Middleton (39), was there with the Duke of Cambridge, but Prince Harry was not there.
Covid-19 concerns led to the cancellation of the original reception. The event was rescheduled for last week. Kensington Palace declined comment.
Operation Purge the Queen’s Diary: Aides will be told to be relentless as they attempt to cut the Monarch’s long list of obligations after her hospital stay.
Mark Hookham, Mail on Sunday
Senior aides at Buckingham Palace are scrambling to devise a strategy for managing the Queen’s workload after being accused of misleading the public over her health.
Sir Edward Young was the Queen’s private secretary and faced calls last night to ‘be ruthless’ and purge the Monarch of all functions not relevant to her position as head of state.
Officials are believed to be creating a core list of key events that Queen Elizabeth II will prioritize in the next 12 month, which includes the Platinum Jubilee, which celebrates her 70-year reign in June.
This is despite reports that the Queen will be accompanied in public by one of her grandchildren or children when she appears in public. This will avoid having to cancel and allow the public to down in the event of future health crises.
After being accused of misleading the public about her health, Buckingham Palace’s senior aides are trying to figure out a strategy to manage the Queen’s workload.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that another member of Royal Family will be there to help her if she has any problems.
Although the Queen’s attendance at UN climate change summit in Glasgow, November 1, remains in the calendar, a final decision will not come until later in the week.
The Palace’s communications team is under pressure from the public to be more open in the event that the Monarch, 95, needs further hospital visits.
Last week, the Queen’s courtiers were heavily criticised for failing to notify the public that she was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on Wednesday. She stayed there overnight for testing.
The Queen at a reception at the Global Investment Summit in Windsor Castle on October 19, 2021
According to media reports, she was at Windsor Castle. Aides revealed that the hospital stay was only on Thursday night after leaks.
The scandal has highlighted the Palace’s growing challenges in balancing Queen Elizabeth’s desire to be active as a head of state and her need to protect herself from harm.
According to royal sources, the relaxation of Covid restrictions has led to a halt in the flow of public events, which is putting pressure on the Queen’s schedule.
According to Buckingham Palace’s Court Circular, she attended 13 audiences or meetings, attended seven important events, and traveled nearly 900 miles since leaving Balmoral, October 1.
She also continues to read Government papers every day, which are delivered in red boxes. She also has a long list private meetings.
Sally Bedell Smith, who wrote a bestseller biography about the Queen, said that they must find some balance.
It is understood that Wednesday’s trip to London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital (pictured above) was for a short visit for preliminary investigations.
The Queen (right) and Boris Johnson at a reception to celebrate the Global Investment Summit in Windsor Castle on October 19, 2021
“I hope they have learned from her very punishing pace over the course of a whole month that that is maybe just a little too much.
Prince Philip, who died in April 2017 at the age of 96, had retired from public life. However, the Queen was determined to continue her work and has been shining brightly at engagements since his passing.
However, she has accepted some changes in recent times.
In 2013, she retired from long-haul travel. Other senior royals assisted her in presenting knighthoods at investiture ceremonies.
Royal commentators however say that the Queen’s taxing schedule will need to be reduced to reflect her age.
The Queen arrives in Cardiff, Wales to attend the ceremonial opening ceremony of the sixth Senedd on October 14, 2021
Ingrid Seward, royal biographer, stated that “She doesn’t want be constantly in hospital because of her exhaustion.”
“She will have to take part in all the major events. She can only hand over the smaller events.
Ms Seward encouraged Prince Charles to take on the responsibility of ensuring Queen Elizabeth is not overworked.
Dickie, a former press secretary of the Queen, challenged her senior courtiers and demanded that the monarch become more selective.
Private secretaries must be proactive and ruthless to say, “Ma’am you can do this, but not that.” He stated that you can’t do everything.
The Palace press office is being urged not to hide the Queen’s condition if she needs further hospital treatment.
Ms. Bedell said that bulletins should be sent promptly after an event like this to maintain credibility.
“Since when has Nicholas Witchell been answerable to her?” Public backlash against ‘infuriating BBC man’ after he questioned whether Buckingham Palace had undermined public trust in not revealing that the Queen was in hospital
Mark Hookham, Mail on Sunday
Nicholas Witchell, the BBC’s seasoned Royal Correspondent, faced backlash last night after he questioned whether Buckingham Palace had compromised public trust by failing reveal that the Queen was admitted to hospital.
Mr Witchell made a direct statement, stating that journalists and the general public were not given the whole picture.
He continued, “The problem is that rumours and misinformation always thrive when there is no reliable, accurate and trustworthy information.” However, his comments were met with online criticism.
Forthright: Nicholas Witchell, Royal Correspondent (pictured above), faced backlash after he asked whether Buckingham Palace had undermined public trust by not disclosing that the Queen was admitted to hospital.
One Royal watcher tweeted, “Nicholas Witchell really is so infuriating,”
‘The Queen’s 95th birthday means she will be in and out hospital for various tests. This is normal at that age regardless of how fit you may be. She doesn’t need to divulge every detail, let her keep some dignity.
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘He’s a pompous a***, full of his own self importance. Bring back Jennie Bond. She was classy.
A third person asked: “Since when has Nicholas Witchell been answerable to the Queen?”
One Twitter user wrote that the Queen is 95 and that she will be admitted to hospital for tests. “That’s what happens at that time no matter how fit you are,” he wrote (file photo).
A BBC stalwart, Mr Witchell (68) provoked royal discontent in 2005 when he asked Prince Charles about his upcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles during a press conference held in Klosters, Switzerland.
Charles mumbled to Princes William, Harry, and Harry under his breath: “I can’t bear that guy.” He’s so terrible, he really is.
One Twitter user this weekend joked: ‘I don’t agree with Prince Charles on many subjects – apart from Nicholas Witchell.
“I bet they’ll be setting aside a room in the Tower before they’ve minted any coronation coins.”