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Privacy NoticeIt’s no secret that Prince Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family has become increasingly strained over the past few years, but it seems he’s still on good terms with the Spencer family. The Duke of Sussex made a quiet trip from the US to the UK to join family members at a memorial service for his late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, in late August. It has been reported that Harry, 39, stayed at the Spencer family’s ancestral home of Althorp House during his secretive trip. The property is his uncle Earl Spencer’s residence and was the childhood home of his late mother, Princess Diana. She was laid to rest on an island within the Round Oval Lake at Althorp House following her tragic death in 1997. Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond has exclusively spoken to OK! about what Harry’s visit and reported stay at Althorp means. She noted that the Spencers must still be in regular contact with Harry, and that it “has to be a positive thing” for both the family and Harry.
Prince Harry with his uncle, Earl Spencer
“When Diana’s coffin arrived back at Althorp and the gates closed behind the hearse, Earl Spencer said simply: ‘Diana is home.’ And he has clearly honoured his pledge that her blood family would allow William and Harry to experience as many different aspects of life as possible and to let their souls sing openly as she had planned,” Jennie exclusively told us. She went on to add: “Quietly, behind the scenes, it is obvious that the Spencer family have kept the communication channels open with Harry and that their affection for him is reciprocated. I’m sure Harry feels it’s important that he still has some kind of anchor here in the UK and, for now at least, it seems that it is with his aunts and uncle. And that has to be a positive thing.” Meanwhile, it’s believed that despite both Harry and his brother Prince William, 42, having attended the memorial service, they did not speak to one another. This makes Harry’s relationship with the Spencers even more significant, Jennie claimed, as she added: “It’s much better that Harry has some links with his UK family, even if reconciliation with the Windsor side maybe a long way off, if indeed it is possible.”
Princes William and Harry both attended the funeral of their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes
(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Observers noted the physical separation between Harry and William throughout the memorial service in August. A source told The Sun that the brothers made a very subtle entrance: “I didn’t know they were there. They arrived very discreetly.” Another person remarked upon the absence of interaction between them, pointing out: “William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance.” However, Reverend Dan Tansey, who led the service said that it would have meant a great deal to Lord Fellowes and his widow Jane, Princess Diana’s older sister, that both brothers attended the service. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPrince HarryCharles, Earl SpencerPrince WilliamRoyal FamilyPrincess Diana
