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PRINCE Charles sent away cars after his father's funeral to allow Harry and William the chance to talk, a former royal aide says.

Dickie Arbiter - the best-known of all the Queen's former press secretaries - said Charles will have wanted his sons to 'break the ice' after Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah chat.

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Harry and William were separated by their cousin as they walked to the chapel - but were later joined by Kate as they chatted together
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Harry and William were separated by their cousin as they walked to the chapel - but were later joined by Kate as they chatted together
Prince Charles 'sent cars away' after his father's funeral to give his sons a chance to catch up, a royal expert says
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Prince Charles 'sent cars away' after his father's funeral to give his sons a chance to catch up, a royal expert saysCredit: Reuters

And he told Good Morning Britain: "They were reasonably animated from what we could see.

"The cameras weren't on them for long, but we did see they had a certain amount of animated conversation."

Mr Arbiter told Susanna Reid and Adil Ray he would have been "very surprised" if the brothers hadn't spent time talking after the funeral.

"It was probably Charles' initiative sending the cars away so that everybody could walk 200 metres back to the castle as a good ice breaker," he said.

It comes as:

The brothers met face-to-face for the first time in a year on Saturday.

They had to wait until after the funeral to chat after walking separately in the Duke’s funeral procession, either side of their cousin Peter Phillips.

They sat apart inside the chapel, opposite one another.

Following the funeral, as the family filed out of the chapel, the brothers walked together with Kate Middleton. They were seen chatting as they did so.

Mr Arbiter said: "The ice was broken by the Duchess of Cambridge.

"Harry went to speak to her and she kind of stepped sideways to allow the two brothers to talk together."

Kate has been hailed as a 'peacemaker' for her role in bringing the brothers back together - with William's official biographer calling her a "rock" for the royals.

 Brian Hoey said: “They say cometh the hour, cometh the man. But in the Royal Family’s case, it’s a woman.

“Thank God for Kate — she is the rock the monarchy will depend on. On Saturday, she behaved absolutely impeccably.”

The brothers then sat opposite each other in the chapel
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The brothers then sat opposite each other in the chapelCredit: Getty
However, after the funeral ended, they were seen talking together
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However, after the funeral ended, they were seen talking together
Kate stepped aside to allow the brothers to speak
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Kate stepped aside to allow the brothers to speakCredit: PA

William and Harry spoke for two hours after the funeral, and it's now believed Harry could stay for the Queen's birthday on Wednesday.

A source said: “It’s early days but you’d hope this is exactly the first step Philip would have wished for.”

And there's hope that the rift between the brothers could now heal.

“It is not known what was said behind closed doors and when the cameras were turned off, but it's unfathomable to think Megxit and Oprah did not come up," the source said.

“Harry and William appeared cordial as the cameras rolled and that seemed to pave the way for Charles to join them when everyone had left.”

Meanwhile, Mr Arbiter called the funeral "powerful and emotive".

"It was powerful in its simplicity," he said.

"We all know somebody who has passed away this past year so we could empathise with royals."

He said images of the Queen sitting alone in the huge chapel were hugely moving - but the monarch "leads by example and was socially distancing".

"She cut such a lonely figure you felt like reaching out to hug her, to comfort her," he said.

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"It was absolutely right, unfortunately, that she sat alone."

But Susanna later hit out at rules on funerals as pub gardens and non-essential shops reopen - and said the photos "just bring home the cruelty and brutality of some of the restrictions".

It's understood William and Harry then spoke for a couple of hours afterwards
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It's understood William and Harry then spoke for a couple of hours afterwards
Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter discussed the funeral on GMB this morning
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Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter discussed the funeral on GMB this morning
Susanna Reid's heartbreak as Queen is forced to sit alone at Prince Philip's funeral while pubs 'explode' with crowds
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