Prince Philip’s funeral: Prince Harry may not even get to give the Queen a hug

Royal commentator Katie Nicholl has explained how Prince Philip’s funeral will unfold and how COVID has complicated Prince Harry’s return.

Prince Harry may not even get to hug the Queen the day she bids her beloved Prince Philip a final goodbye.

The Duke of Sussex has been isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor since arriving to the UK alone last Sunday for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Government regulations dictate that he can leave on day five if he returns a negative COVID test.

The results of that test could come as late as Saturday morning London time, leaving a “short window” to make peace with his relatives before the memorial at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Vanity Fair’s Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl told News Corp Australia in a Facebook live event tonight that Prince Harry will meet the Queen before the funeral to smooth the waters following his Oprah Winfrey interview if he gets a negative test.

“It was never going to be an easy reunion but my goodness, this is just an unimaginably difficult circumstance for them to be in,” Ms Nicholl said.

“I understand there’s going to be a very short window of time where he’s going to be able to see his grandmother, his father, the Prince of Wales, (and) his brother, of course, Prince William, before they have the world’s cameras trained on them at this very public funeral.

“I think it’s a really tough position to be in.”

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, pictured with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. Picture: AFP

“I know they are royals and we put them on a pedestal and we don’t always see them as real people but they are real people, with real lives and real intentions and real feelings.

“They learn to control them, they know cameras will be on them and I think they will be giving very little away in front of the cameras but behind closed doors I think it will be a deeply emotional reunion.”

The author of Harry: Life, Loss and Love believes Princes Harry and William will put aside their differences and honour the duke.

“This is not about them, this is not about the rift, this is not about what’s been said, who has been hurt, who made who cry, this is about the duke, this is about saying farewell, paying respect and coming together as a family to support the Queen because that is what she needs more than anything at the moment.”

Vanity Fair Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl. Picture: Supplied

The royal expert understands Prince Harry has connected on the phone with immediate family including Prince Charles and the Queen.

“As you would expect he is here for the funeral, he is speaking to his family, I think at the moment it’s a case of putting personal differences aside and getting on with it. Which is the mantra of the great man himself (Prince Philip), just get on with it he said in life and that’s what he will expect his family to do on Saturday,” Ms Nicholls said.

She said Prince Philip would have been “perplexed until the end” on Prince Harry’s decision to quit royal life.

She said Prince Philip “struggled with it” adding, “The idea of giving it all up would have been unthinkable”.

Ms Nicholls believes Meghan Markle would be feeling “great sadness for (husband) Prince Harry” after the loss of his grandfather. But she would not be feeling any regrets about giving the Oprah interview.

“I don’t believe they have any regrets about that interview, I think the timing was unfortunate,” she said

“They did it quite specifically to tell their version of events, their truths.”

Prince Philip will get a royal ceremonial funeral of just 30 guests compared to a state funeral of about 800 guests and a street procession because of COVID restrictions. All guests will be required to socially distance and wear masks.

But Ms Nicholls says a small event is what Prince Philip would have preferred.

“In a funny kind of way he is getting the funeral he always wanted … it’s going to be low key,” she said.

Originally published as Prince Philip’s funeral: Prince Harry may not even get to give the Queen a hug