Princess Diana’s family join Prince Harry at his Invictus celebrations while the Royals stayed away

The royal cold war continued this week, as a ‘snubbed’ Prince Harry was joined by Diana’s siblings, Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes, in lieu of a reunion with his father.. 

 Two miles down the road from Buckingham Palace’s first royal garden party of the season, Prince Harry walked alone up the stairs of St Paul’s Cathedral. While his father greeted guests, the Duke of Sussex was welcomed to his Invictus Games ceremony by Princess Diana’s siblings – Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Spencer.. 

 Harry, who flew from Montecito without his wife Meghan Markle, looked overjoyed to see his aunt and uncle inside the cathedral, embracing them with warm hugs and California grins. They were the only members of his family to attend the Thanksgiving ceremony, which was organised to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Games. The King’s decision not to attend his son’s event, due to schedule conflicts, was widely perceived as a ‘snub’ against Harry.. 

 Yet, some members of the Duke's family did attend the event; in the form of Diana's siblings. The Spencer siblings have remained steadfast in their support of the Prince, throughout his increasingly fractious relationship with the Windsor family. Both Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes received ‘stand out thanks’ in Harry’s autobiography, Spare – an honour noticeably not bestowed upon his father... 

 Lady Jane is an especially close confidant for the Duke. She was asked to deliver a speech at his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, and she was introduced to the couple’s first son, Archie, before even Prince William. Meghan was touched after Harry introduced her to his aunt, telling reporters before the wedding that she felt like she could ‘know a part’ of Diana through a relationship Lady Jane.. 

 Charles, the ninth Earl Spencer, is a journalist and historian. He is perhaps best known for his own tumultuous relationship with the royal family, pillorying the Windsors and the press during an electrifying address at his sister’s funeral. ‘There never was much love lost between the Spencers and the Windsors,’ according to former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole, who told MailOnline that ‘the divide was shown in its deepest and starkest form’ as events played out on Wednesday. 

 Other guests included Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer, Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne, and his close friend Mark Dyer – who helped mentor the Prince after the death of his mother. Dyer is also godfather to Meghan and Harry's son Archie.