Prince Harry’s Friends: It’s ‘Very Sad’ He Can’t Attend Uncle’s Funeral

Friends close to Prince Harry have expressed sorrow over his decision not to attend the funeral of his uncle, Robert Fellowes. Fellowes, who passed away earlier this month, was married to Princess Diana’s sister, Lady Jane, who is 67 years old.

Fellowes held the position of private secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II and was a pivotal figure during the tumultuous period of Prince Charles’ troubled marriage to Diana. This role strained Diana’s relationship with her sister, Jane. Despite this, Jane and Harry managed to mend their relationship, with Jane even giving a reading at Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, signifying her special status in Harry’s life.

Although Harry did not hold Fellowes in high regard, whom Diana saw as part of the “men in grey” that conspired against her, family friends have indicated that under normal circumstances, Harry would have attended the funeral out of respect for his aunt.

A source close to Harry confirmed to The Daily Beast that Harry would not be traveling to the U.K. for the funeral.

Some reports have speculated that Harry’s absence is due to security concerns after losing automatic protection while in Britain. However, a source revealed to The Daily Beast that while complicated security arrangements contributed, they were just one of many reasons making visits to the U.K. difficult for Harry.

Instead, Harry and Meghan are scheduled to travel to Colombia on Thursday to support an initiative aimed at addressing violence against children.

An old friend of Harry’s remarked to The Daily Beast: “It’s just all very sad. The idea that he wouldn’t be there to support Jane in her grief would have been unimaginable a few years ago.”

Source: The Daily Beast