Prince Harry and Prince William are expected to display a united front at the unveiling of a statue of their late mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday in July.
It is likely to be the first time the brothers will meet since Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey that made accusations of racism within the British royal family.
They have not seen each other in more than a year. On Thursday William said he had not spoken to his brother since the interview, but there have been suggestions the pair may have texted this week.
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Prince William and Prince Harry join Queen Elizabeth II's funeral procession towards St George's Chapel in September 2022 in Windsor. Getty Images -
The royal brothers attend a vigil in honour of the queen at Westminster Hall, central London. Getty Images -
Prince William, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Westminster Hall as the queen's coffin is carried in. Getty Images -
The princes and their wives on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle, heading to meet mourners who had gathered and left tributes to Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, in July 2021. Getty Images -
The princes at the ceremonial procession during the funeral of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April 2021. Getty Images -
The princes are joined by their wives for a Commonwealth Day service in March 2020 in London. Getty Images -
(L-R) Prince William, Sir David Attenborough, Prince Charles — now king — and Prince Harry attend the world premiere of Our Planet at London's Natural History Museum in April 2019. Getty Images -
The princes and their wives leave a Christmas Day service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, in December 2018. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry attend the opening of the Greenhouse Sports Centre in 2018 in London. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry watch the RAF 100th anniversary flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the queen, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Getty Images -
Prince William, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2018. Getty Images -
Prince Harry with his best man, Prince William, as they wait for the start of his wedding ceremony to Meghan in 2018. Getty Images -
The princes race against each other at a London Marathon training day at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2017. Getty Images -
The princes try out light sabres during a tour of the Star Wars sets at Pinewood studio, London, in 2016. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William raise their wands on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. Getty Images -
The princes take part in the late queen's diamond jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 2012. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William wave from the royal barge Spirit of Chartwell in 2012. Getty Images -
Prince William takes the hand of his bride Kate, followed by Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton as they walk down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in 2011. Getty Images -
The princes chat before the wedding in 2011. Getty Images -
The princes pose with David Beckham at an FA reception in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images -
The princes on a visit to a classroom lit by oil lamps in Semongkong, Lesotho, in 2010. Getty Images -
The princes celebrate a try during the 2007 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa in 2007. Getty Images -
The princes pose for an official photograph for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla in 2005. Getty Images -
The princes follow the coffin of their grandmother and Princess Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, in 2004. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth waves to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as Prince Harry and Prince William look on after attending the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in 2003. Getty Images -
Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry appear at a photo call in the Swiss village of Klosters at the start of his annual skiing holiday in 2002. Getty Images -
Princes William and Harry appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in 2001. Getty Images -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana in September 1997. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry pose with Princess Diana and Prince Charles on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995. Getty Images -
Princess Diana with the young princes at the piano in Kensington Palace in 1985. Getty Images -
Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their sons aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in Venice in 1985. Getty Images
The brothers will "come together", with William ready to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Harry, the Daily Mirror reported, citing royal sources.
"Tensions are undoubtedly running high but they both realise it is important to put any differences aside for the ceremony at least," the source said.
"There is definitely a feeling that both camps are prepared to come together and put on a united front for such a special occasion."
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex step out of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex head up The Long Walk back into Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during the procession after getting married St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Getty Images -
Prince Harry arrives at his wedding to Meghan Markle with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle leaves the Cliveden House Hotel accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, ahead of her wedding. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle and her pageboys Brian Mulroney and John Mulroney arrive at her wedding. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle walks up the aisle with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at St George's Chapel. Getty Images -
Prince Harry waits for Meghan Markle at the altar during their wedding in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Meghan Markle and her bridal party walk down the aisle. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand at the altar. Getty Images -
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand at the altar. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex depart after their wedding ceremony. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex salutes members of the Royal family including, from left to right: Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, James, Viscount Severn, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave from the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession on Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex hold hands in the Ascot Landau Carriage as their carriage procession rides along the Long Walk. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex in the Ascot Landau carriage during the procession after getting married. Getty Images
The brothers commissioned the statue in 2017 “to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue”. It will be installed at Kensington Palace and has been created by artist Ian Rank-Broadley.
During the interview with Winfrey, Prince Harry said: “As I said before, I love William to bits. We’ve been through hell together and we have a shared experience, but we are on different paths.”
On Thursday Prince William rejected claims the royal family was racist and said while he not spoken to his brother since the Winfrey interview, he intended to do so. It is said they have not spoken in months.
Peaches Golding, the Lord-Lieutenant of the County & City of Bristol and someone who has worked with the brothers’ father, Prince Charles, to increase diversity, said she believed members of the royal family were “not racist”.
“From my perspective I have never worked with a kinder, more respectful group of people,” she told BBC Radio 4.
It is unclear whether Prince Harry, who is in the US, will attend any other major events this summer, such as his grandfather’s 100th birthday, because of the birth of his second child.
New polling suggests public opinion of Prince Harry and Meghan fell in the wake of the interview.
According to YouGov data, 45 per cent of Britons have a positive opinion of Prince Harry and 48 per cent regard him negatively. It is the first time attitudes have been more negative than positive.
For Meghan, 31 per cent see her positively, compared with 58 per cent who have a negative opinion.
