Prince William name-checked Harry at last week’s reception for the Diana statue

Diana's 60th birthday

Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted a private reception for everyone involved with the Princess Diana statue in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace. This was the same reception which they wanted Prince Harry to attend, and they were trying to publicly guilt him into coming back just for a dumb thank-you reception. Harry already thanked everyone involved when he was in the UK in early July, for the unveiling of this fakakta statue. In any case, it fell to William to make a little speech, and the Sun got a hot tip that Baldemort name-checked Harry.

Prince William generously name-checked Harry in a rare show of unity as he thanked friends for their late mum’s statue. Despite the strain on their relationship since Megxit and the Oprah Winfrey interview, he said the brothers were “both happy” with it.

Harry, 37, returned to Britain for the Princess Diana statue ceremony in July, but missed the private reception at Kensington Palace held to thank donors and friends. But Wills, 39, stepped in and spoke on behalf of himself and his brother.

A source said: “It was very intimate and sweet. There was a real family feel as many of Diana’s 17 godchildren were also there. William made a brilliant speech saying thank you from him and Harry and how happy they both were with the statue. He mentioned Harry by name. The brothers are barely on speaking terms but it’s clear the Princess Di statue has done some good.”

[From The Sun]

It occurs to me that William has kind of set it up so he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Which is hilarious – by name-checking his brother, William looks like what he is, a clout-chaser latching on to his brother’s popularity and good name. If William had not mentioned Harry, he would look spiteful and bitter (which he is as well). Anyway, I’m just reminded of how shocked I was that William and Harry made it through the statue unveiling with so little drama. All of the drama in the lead-up came from Middleton Manor, trying to insert Kate and Carole into every story. Which leads me to another thought: it’s curious that we haven’t heard much about Kate’s involvement in last week’s reception. Hm.

Diana's 60th birthday

Diana's 60th birthday

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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30 Responses to “Prince William name-checked Harry at last week’s reception for the Diana statue”

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  1. Eurydice says:

    Well, he is a clout-chaser latching on to Harry’s popularity, but it was also right to include Harry in his speech – not sweet or generous, just the correct thing to do.

  2. Songs (Or it didnt happen) says:

    Next up: William drops his long awaited diss track.

  3. Jan90067 says:

    Bitter Brother knows the only SURE FIRE way he’ll get those remarks out there with any real spin is to attach Harry to it. Otherwise, it’s said, put out, and gone before he sits down.

    • Rapunzel says:

      I wondered if part of the reason he mentioned Harry was to throw a bone to the RRs since he couldn’t get Harry to come in person.

  4. Margaret says:

    What no pictures.

    • myjobistoprincess says:

      we’ll get to see them when they’ll need to fill a press hole sometime when the sussexes will be doing something and they wont have anything on their schedule becuase theyre vacationning again.

  5. Snuffles says:

    I’m just picturing Diana up in heaven threatening to snatch the last few hairs on William’s bald head if doesn’t cooperate on her memorial statue.

  6. Same says:

    Brothers unveil statue to honor their mother — there is a dinner thanking people who paid for said statue – the brother in attendance thanks crowd on behalf of them both. Conspiracy at 11.

    On a more fun note – I wonder which one of the follicular challenged will give up and shave it all of first?

    • Snuffles says:

      Will should just shave it off and go full Dr. Evil/Lex Luther.

    • Lurker8 says:

      Looking at childhood pics, Harry’s hair has always looked lighter in the middle and now it has thinned and being so light-skinned it looks gone in bright environments but in darker lightning and photos it looks fuller. 🤷‍♀️

      If he wants to keep it that’s his right.

      • Snuffles says:

        Agreed. It totally depends on the lighting. His hair is definitely thinned in the back of his head but don’t think it’s a full on bald spot like William.

  7. Chloe says:

    Okay so who actually believes this story?

  8. Rapunzel says:

    In that short statue unveiling, Will looked more at his estranged brother he tried to exile to Africa than he has at his wife at any event in the last 2-3 years.

    That tells us all we need to know about the Cambridges perfect marriage.

    • Becks1 says:

      When you put it that way…….lol. William looked way more comfortable at the statute unveiling with Harry than he did at any recent event with his wife.

  9. Over it says:

    Every time I see these pictures I am reminded that Harry is hot and William is not.
    They didn’t get a tip, Willy probably dropped off the speech to the sun himself

  10. Amy Bee says:

    I mean, I didn’t expect William to omit Harry from the proceedings it was a joint project afterall. But I saw a clip from one of the UK morning shows touting this as some kind of possible step forward in their relationship. If there’s one thing the royals know how to do is behave well in public which is why Kate’s snub of Harry and Meghan at the Commonwealth Day service was poor form. Anyway, all hope is now on Harry and Meghan visiting for Christmas. The press can’t have it both ways. They can’t say that Harry and Meghan trashed the family, should have their titles stripped and be ostracized by the family and then expect and want them to come for Christmas.

    • notasugarhere says:

      We’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, with the UK numbers rising. No reason for Harry and Meghan to have Lili’s first Christmas in a foreign country.

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Notasugarhere: We both know this but it doesn’t seem like the British press knows that a pandemic is still going on. I’d be surprised if they go even if there wasn’t a pandemic. When they left the family wasn’t treating Meghan well, I don’t expect them to have any desire to want to spend Christmas away from Doria and their first Christmas with Lili with people who hate them and wish them harm.

  11. Sofia says:

    It’s not really surprising. Of course he would mention Harry. He was involved and he’s Diana’s son.

    • Lady D says:

      William being nice to anyone is almost jaw-dropping surprising. It’s practically the last thing he would be known for.

      • Agreatreckoning says:

        LOL. I guess that’s why it is news worthy. William’s forked tongue mentioning Harry’s name in a decent context is considered ‘generous’ and not normal behavior.

        Seriously wondering if there is some exaggeration happening with the number of people that showed up – if it was even held.

  12. A says:

    Doesn’t Harry almost always mention William at stuff like this? He did it during his Diana awards speech, and in response to the BBC investigation he used the words our instead of me if I’m not mistaken? It really shouldn’t/ wouldn’t be a big deal had baldingham and Karen not spent the last year constantly trying to compete with two people an ocean away, and if William had people around him with common sense who could stop him from playing the mummy loved me best game.

  13. notasugarhere says:

    So both W&K may have been exposed to COVID via Ed Sheeran at Struggle Prize PR night. Did they bother to inform any of the people at this event? Of course not.

    • Rapunzel says:

      And they went off a flight as well…if they were infected, they could be spreading it all over the place.

      • Mslove says:

        The Cambridges spreading Covid all over the world. It’s the most work they’ve done in years.

  14. Just Me says:

    A “brilliant speech” – from William – really? really?
    Was he actually incandescent and glowing when he spoke about Harry?