The complex dynamic of the relationship between Prince William, 39, and his younger brother, Prince Harry, 37, was on full display on Friday afternoon.
The royal family carried on with the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth‘s Platinum Jubilee by attending a thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Due to mobility issues and discomfort, Queen Elizabeth could not attend the church service in her honor.
However, Prince Harry, Prince William, and their royal spouses, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, were in attendance.
It was the first time the two power couples had appeared together in public in more than two years.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal duties in early 2020 and relocated to California, where they took part in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Prince Harry and Markle aired their grievances about the royal family, and since then, their relationships with Prince Charles and Prince William have crumbled.
The brothers confirmed that the royal rift is still going, and no progress has been made. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived several minutes before the future king and Kate Middleton.
When Prince William and Kate Middleton entered the church, they went out of their way to avoid making eye contact with Markle and Prince Harry.
Prince William could be seen taking a long deep breath as he entered the church and walked past his younger brother.
The heir to the throne could also be seen making grimaces, much like his son, Prince Louis, before taking his seat, which was very far from Prince Harry.
A body language expert looked at the photos and videos showing Prince William rolling his lips in discomfort because of being under the same roof as Prince Harry and Markle and shared her thoughts.
Judi James said that Prince William’s decision to suck his lips was a way to give his brother, Prince Harry, the “opposite of an acknowledgment.”
The royal observer claimed via the Mirror that Prince William adopted a “barrier gesture” and added: “So far, there have been no ‘moments’ between the brothers to signal acknowledgment or a hint of any restoration of their friendship bonding. Harry looked firmly resigned to the back row here and was not sitting behind his brother as he was for the last service of remembrance.”
She gave more details about Prince William’s behavior by sharing: “There was the opposite to an acknowledgment from William as he walked past Harry’s row during the parade out of the service. Sucking in his lips and with his chin pulled up in a gesture of resolve, he appeared to turn his head in the other direction for a moment, raising his order of service high in a barrier gesture.”
Talking about Markle’s appearance, the expert said it was “as perfect as it could have been under difficult circumstances.”
She said: “Her posture was upright, and her smile was designed for a calm but low-key appearance. While Harry’s emotions and behavior seemed to fluctuate between subdued and anxious and odd moments of fun break-outs that looked like another symptom of inner anxiety or tension, Meghan used a small touch on his back as what looked like the only other PDA than their signature hand clasp.”
Prince Charles also made his true feeling known, when he passed by the row where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were seated, he was photographed looking away.
The snub continued with Prince Charles warmly greeting Kate Middleton and even blowing her a kiss as they chatted before the service.
Prince Harry and Prince William were not seen talking despite coming together at the same event.
Prince William and his spouse had a reception for the royal family after the church service, and Markle and Prince Harry were not invited.
