Prince Harry and Prince William could reunite as Mary Roche, aunt of the late Diana, has died

It's an unfortunate pattern of life that family reunions tend to happen at major life ceremonial events, such as funerals.

This could be a reunion of uncomfortable proportions if the funeral of Mary Roche, the great-aunt of Prince William and Harry, is attended by both brothers.

William and Harry have not been seen together in public since the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. There has been much to fracture the relationship between the brothers with perceived transgressions and failure to apologise on both sides. Harry, of course, has written a memoir - Spare - of his family's turmoil and completed a series of TV interviews elaborating on his claims in January 2023.

Whether the brothers can mend their relationship is still to be seen. The death of Mary Roche, who was an aunt of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on Friday 3 March 2023, allows an opportunity for Harry and William to mark an occasion bigger than their own feud. And there's nothing bigger and more poignant than saying goodbye to a loved one.

Mary was 88 when she died last week and although her funeral date has not been revealed, it is thought to take place within the next few days.

It is believed that Mary spotted that Diana was not looking happy at her wedding reception to Charles in 1981. "I just remember her being unhappy at that reception," Mary said, years after the event. Mary was close to Diana and knew her natural behaviour to be fun and full of laughter, the opposite of how she appeared immediately after her wedding.

She further elaborated on the union: "They were at very different stages of development. Diana was young and had limited life experience, and Prince Charles was already a great thinker. He read a great deal. They were, perhaps, different people."

Mary suffered tragedy of her own as he first ex-husband, Sir Anthony Berry - a Tory MP - was murdered by the IRA in Brighton in 1984. She married and divorced twice more.

If William and Harry are not reunited for Mary's funeral, which seems more than likely, then the next opportunity for a possible meeting would be at the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023. Harry and Meghan have not confirmed whether they will attend the coronation, although a spokesperson has said there has been an invite sent by email to the couple.