When the rift between Princes William and Harry first became public, their late mother’s birthday, July 1, was considered to be the one date in the calendar that offered hope of a reunion.
Four years ago, it certainly seemed to be the case as the brothers came together to unveil a statue of Princess Diana in the sunken garden at Kensington Palace.
However, on what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday, relations between her sons were civil at best. William looked tense, while Harry forced a smile.
July 1 is said to be a date that both princes commemorate. This year, they did so in different ways.
Harry’s wife, the Duchess of Sussex, released a rosé wine as the Sussexes continue to carve out a life in California.
William, meanwhile, was in Sheffield, where he was joined by Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, and the entrepreneur Steven Bartlett to celebrate the second anniversary of his Homewards programme, which aims to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated”.
The Prince of Wales with the former prime minister Gordon Brown, left, and the entrepreneur Steven Bartlett
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/PA
It is understood to be a happy coincidence for William that his visit coincided with his mother’s birthday.
He used the event to outline his mission to alleviate homelessness for thousands of people who, he said, had been “screwed by society”. Announcing that the scheme would move into “delivery mode”, including a route to get people back into work, William said: “That’s what I love about the employment pathway, because many of these people have found themselves for many reasons not of their own making, outside of society.
• Prince Harry, King Charles and the rift 40 years in the making
“To get them back into society, you have to give them the skill set to do that and employment is one of those things where, if you can’t find a job, you don’t get skills and you don’t have any skills because you’re at an age when you’re already past your education or training opportunities — you are literally screwed by society unless somebody comes along and says I’ll give you a chance and an opportunity.”
William announced a new partnership with Brown’s Multibank charity, which provides necessities such as toiletries, bedding and clothes for people rehoused after a period of homelessness.
• ‘Disappointed’ Princess of Wales pulls out of Royal Ascot
While the prince did not mention Diana, she was invoked by Brown, who has become an ally of William’s project.
Following a panel event with the prince, Brown said: “I know he was influenced by his mother at a very early age [and] he really believes that we have to do something about the problems of people who for whatever reason are left behind and lose out … where we can help, we must. I see this charity that he has created going from strength to strength and we are only at the beginning of what I think is going to be a very big success story.”
William meets pupils at Meadowhead School during his visit to Sheffield
DANNY LAWSON/PA
The former Labour prime minister was named chairman of the Princess Diana Memorial Committee shortly after her death in 1997 and has said he was “honoured” to be offered the role. He went on to be closely involved with the Diana Award, which honours young people who improve the lives of others.
Both Harry and William remain involved with the awards named after their mother, although for years have shown their support in different ways at different times — and mostly ensuring that the Atlantic Ocean remains between the two of them when they do so.
Harry, meanwhile, continues to support his other projects outside the royal fold. He has said that he would like to see more of his father, yet no plans are in place and it is said that he is not on speaking terms with the King.
Reports that Harry was allegedly preparing to email his family to invite them to the Invictus Games when they are held in Birmingham in 2027 have been shot down by his team.
It is understood that any formal invitations to the royal family to attend the Paralympic-style competition for military veterans will be issued by the Invictus organisers rather than by Harry personally. As the saying goes, he’ll have his people contact their people.
The Duchess and Duke of Sussex at the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, in February
KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE
After his attempt to reinstate his police protection in the UK ended in defeat at the Court of Appeal, Harry told the BBC that some members of his family “will never forgive me” for publishing his memoir, Spare.
Five years after leaving his official royal role, Harry is still establishing himself outside the royal family. His wife, on the other hand, appears to go from strength to strength.
Meghan launched her rosé as part of her As Ever brand
On Tuesday, she launched her rosé wine, priced at $30 a bottle. In a post on Instagram, the duchess’s As Ever brand said: “It’s here! Raise a glass to the newest addition to the As Ever family. Our beautiful Napa Valley rosé is now available.”
• Coming soon! Meghan reinvents the jam jar
The wine went on sale at 4pm UK time, but the site was updated less than hour later to say that stocks had sold out.
Meghan’s wine sold out in an hour
People, the US magazine that has promoted the Sussexes, had trailed the launch with a report noting that the wine’s release date would have been Diana’s 64th birthday.
Harry said in his memoir that his mother’s 55th birthday in 2016 was significant because it was the date that he and Meghan started talking.
Next year will mark what would have been their mother’s 65th. If past anniversaries are anything to go by, the princes will put great store in marking the occasion. Any chance that they will commemorate the date together, however, is vanishingly small.
Leave a Reply