Can Prince Philip’s funeral bring the royal family back together?

Experts are beginning to speculate about the results

Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Prince William
(Image credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Life is temporarily on hold for the royal family as it pays tribute to Prince Philip, who passed away peacefully on April 9 at age 99. Although the past year has been quite turbulent for the British monarch—especially due to Prince Harry's exit—many experts are beginning to wonder if coming together for Prince Philip's funeral could be the first step towards healing. 

• According to Vanity Fair, Prince Philip's funeral services will be the first time Prince Harry will publicly appear alongside his family since the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020.

• Although Prince William and Prince Harry have not been corresponding, they have allegedly touched base after their grandfather's passing, Vanity Fair further reports.  

• In other royal news, Prince Philip's DNA once helped solve a Russian murder mystery. 

As of late, life has been royally turbulent for the British monarch. 

Between Prince Harry's decision to step down from his royal duties, his subsequent tell-all interview with Oprah, Prince Philip's ailing health—and ultimately, demise—the world's most-watched family has had to grapple with some difficulties. However, Prince Harry and Prince William are expected to set aside their differences and come together to walk shoulder-to-should at their grandfather's funeral. Megan Markle, however, will not join her husband for the services in the U.K., as her doctor advised her not to travel at this stage in her pregnancy. 

In the wake of the heartbreaking news, both brothers have paid tribute to their beloved grandfather. In a lengthy Instagram post, Prince William wrote about how grateful he was to have Prince Philip in his wife and children's lives. (Plus, he couldn't help but acknowledge his wicked sense of humor!) Prince William concluded the statement with, "I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry acknowledged the same characteristics in his public statement.

"My grandfather was a man of service, honour, and great humour," he said. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next."

It sounds like both brothers had a similar relationship with the Duke of Edinburgh. Although tensions are undoubtedly still high, hopefully, one hardship can help repair another. 

Danielle Valente

Danielle is a writer for woman&home and My Imperfect Life, where she particularly enjoys covering lifestyle and entertainment news. She was previously the editor of Time Out New York Kids and a news editor at Elite Daily. When she's not working, you can find her reading a good book and enjoying a cup of coffee. Follow her @dvwrites.