Prince Harry’s Emotional Tribute to Late Uncle Leaves Guests 'Astounded' and Him 'Pleased,' Source Says (Exclusive) (2024)

Prince Harry's unexpected journey across the Atlantic to pay his respects at the memorial service for his late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, was deeply emotional, leaving him "pleased" and guests "astounded," a source tells PEOPLE.

The trip carried extra significance, coming just two days before the anniversary of the death of his late mother, Princess Diana. However, Harry's surprise arrival in the U.K. — despite earlier reports that he wouldn’t attend — didn’t lead to a public reconciliation with his brother, Prince William, 42.

At the Aug. 29 service at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, the estranged brothers sat apart, each with different groups of their maternal cousins.

“Most people were astounded that Harry came,” one of the reported 300 attendees tells PEOPLE. “He was on remarkably good form — and you could tell he was very pleased to see everybody. And he was very pleased that he had come over.”

Many guests, including members of the extended Spencer family and friends, gathered around Harry — who turns 40 on Sept. 15 — to speak with him at the service, according to the source.

Although the royal brothers stood close to each other while chatting with others, the source did not observe Harry speaking to William. It’s also believed that Harry did not see his father, King Charles, 75, who is being treated for cancer and is staying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The moment was especially poignant as Harry spent time with his mother’s siblings—Fellowes’s widow Lady Jane, Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, and Lady Sarah McCorquodale — around the 27th anniversary of Diana’s death. (The late Princess of Wales died in Paris following a car crash on Aug. 31, 1997.)

Like his brother William, who chose the Fellowes' daughter Laura as a godmother to his daughter Princess Charlotte, Harry remains close to Diana’s side of the family. Lady Jane, Charles Spencer, and some of his Spencer cousins were by his side at the service to commemorate his Invictus Games at St. Paul’s Cathedral in May, where no senior members of the royal family attended.

“I think it was lovely – and right – that he came and paid his respects,” says a royal insider, who wasn't surprised by his attendance.

A close source suggests," Given everything that has gone on with the family's health, I suspect he wants to spend time with people. He is very close to his mother's side of the family.”

The public outing came as the Mail on Sunday reported that Harry, who stepped back from royal duties with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020, is exploring ways to reintegrate into the royal fold. However, sources who previously worked with him could not confirm the story to PEOPLE.

Insiders recently told PEOPLE that Harry's efforts have been centered on reinstating his security to allow him, Meghan and their children to visit his home country more freely. This issue is a significant factor in his ongoing rift with his father, King Charles. (Buckingham Palace will not comment on security provisions, but a palace source tells PEOPLE the notion that Harry's security is in Charles's hands is "wholly incorrect.")

"Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father," a royal insider told PEOPLE last month. Another source close to the situation said, "Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs."

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Harry’s appearance at his late uncle’s memorial reaffirms his strong bonds with the Spencers but seems to have had no effect on his relationship with his brother.

Reverend Dan Tansey, who led the service for Lord Fellowes on August 29, was surprised to see both William and Harry in attendance. In an interview with The Sun, which first reported Harry’s appearance, the vicar recounted, "It was only as I was greeting the congregation on the way out that Prince William was shaking my hand, and then very quickly after, Prince Harry did too."

He added that they "both said thank you for the service, and I thanked them for coming."