Queen 'wants Prince Philip's death to be a "catalyst" for her family to reunite' despite tensions 'running high'
THE Queen wants Prince Philip's death to be a catalyst for her family to reunite, a royal source has revealed.
Her Majesty has found comfort over the last week seeing her family rally around one another and putting differences aside.
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And it was today reported the 94-year-old monarch is hoping previous tensions in her family – including Prince Harry's decision to quit the Firm and move to the US will be healed during the time of mourning.
It is believed Prince Harry will see his family today for the first time since quitting royal life with his wife Meghan Markle last year.
According to the Daily Mail, a royal source said: "Tensions are still obviously high, a lot has been said and wounds re still very raw.
"But there is a realisation that everyone does need to reach some form of resolution, if only for the Queen, who has said it her wish that the family comes together.
"The family has been united in grief this week and it has given a lot of people pause for thought.
"It is certainly hoped that the period of unity from the darkness of the Duke's passing can be used as a catalyst to come together instead of letting the passage of time deepen divisions."
It comes as…
- The Queen shared a candid photo of her beaming next to Philip
- Her Majesty will bid a private farewell to her husband before his coffin leaves Windsor Castle for the funeral
- Mike Tindall posted a sweet photo of Prince Philip with his daughter Mia
- The monarch took her new puppies for a walk at Frogmore ahead of the service
- Omid Scobie and Gayle King will lead US coverage of the funeral
The Duke of Sussex unleashed a string of bombshell claims just last month when he and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey.
The couple claimed they had faced racism in the Royal Family, including "conversations" over the skin colour of their then-unborn son Archie.
However, Prince William spoke out a day later, insisting the Royals were "very much not a racist family".
The brothers have reportedly had a strained relationship over the past year since Harry and Meghan quit the UK.
And Royal aides say they are "walking on eggshells" around William and Harry ahead of Philip's funeral.
They claim the feud between the brothers has taken up "much thought and energy" in the run-up to the event, where they will come face to face for the first time in more than a year.
Sources say it has been a "minefield" making plans, with "everyone walking on eggshells so as not to exacerbate the situation", the Daily Mail reports.
But the pair say they want to focus on mourning their grandfather and put aside their differences.
One insider said: "To be fair, both William and Harry have made clear that they wish to focus on mourning their grandfather and do not want anything to get in the way of that.
"But it has made everyone doubly nervous about saying anything that could be remotely construed of being critical of the other side. It’s been a minefield."
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "This is a funeral. We will not be drawn into those perceptions of drama.
"The arrangements have been agreed and they reflect Her Majesty’s wishes."
Harry and William will be kept 12ft apart as they walk behind Philip’s coffin on Saturday.
They will be separated by Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, 43, during the procession as the Queen says farewell to her husband of 73 years at Windsor Castle.
But sources insist the formation was based purely on "bloodlines and age".
Kensington Palace has not confirmed if the brothers have been in touch since Sunday when Harry flew in from California, where he, Meghan and son Archie now live.
But it is claimed Harry reached out to his brother – along with his father Prince Charles and cousins Beatrice and Eugenie – to "park any disputes" ahead of the funeral.
He and William are also said to be "keen to spend time together as a family" after Philip's funeral.
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