Metres apart but still an ocean away: Vicar describes how he did not see warring William and Harry speak as they left their uncle’s memorial service after Duke secretly travelled 5,000 miles to be there

Prince William and Prince Harry did not speak to each other as they left the church separately after the memorial service for their uncle Lord Fellowes.

The vicar conducting the service confirmed that the warring royal brothers were “a few people apart” as they left the 14th-century St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk.

The church’s pastor, Reverend Dan Tansey, admitted he was surprised to see William and Harry at yesterday’s service, which was attended by about 300 people.

He told MailOnline today: ‘The memorial service was yesterday. The private funeral took place earlier in the week with only [close] family.’

Describing the estranged siblings’ appearance, Pastor Tansey said, “Yes, it was a big surprise to me.”

The pastor also said he could not recall Harry and William speaking at a reception after the service, but did say “many family and friends spoke to them.”

When asked if Harry and William sat next to each other in church, he replied: ‘I don’t know because I was in the sacristy.’

‘When I came out to start the service, they were already there, but I didn’t even know they were there until I was waiting for people to leave the church after the service.

‘They came out and shook my hand, and said hello. I couldn’t see where they were sitting in the church.

“I just greeted one person at a time as they came out. They came out with a few people in between them.”

He described the service this way: ‘I’m standing at the front of the church, with my glasses on, and I can see the front row, but that’s it.’

Pastor Tansey continued, “I had prepared myself half an hour beforehand, so I didn’t see anyone come through the front door.

‘It was a beautiful service and people wanted to be there for someone who was so respected in Snettisham.

‘It was only when I wanted to thank the council as they left that Prince William shook my hand, and very quickly after that Prince Harry too.

“It was a surprise, but a pleasant surprise, that they were both there. But maybe it was less of a shock that William was there.

‘As we left they both thanked me for the service and I thanked them for coming. At the reception afterwards there was a very relaxed and warm atmosphere.

‘I don’t remember them speaking to each other, but there were a lot of family and friends who spoke to them.

‘It would have meant a great deal to Lord Fellowes if they had both been present at the service. He loved them both very much.’

Reverend Tansey said consideration was still being given to holding a more formal celebration of Lord Fellowes’ life in London at a later date.

He was married to Lady Jane, sister of the late Princess Diana, and was a long-time courtier at Buckingham Palace. He worked for the late Queen Elizabeth II for 22 years, until 1999.

It was a period that saw the breakdown of his sister-in-law’s marriage to the then Prince Charles and her tragic death in 1997.

Reverend Tansey said of a future service: ‘I believe it is still possible, but as I am only a local parish priest I would not be involved in anything in London.

‘The last I heard there was still going to be some kind of formal memorial. Whether that would be at the Lords or something like that, I really don’t know.

“As far as I understand it’s still a plan. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. I have to think about their privacy.”

However, he described the attendance at the memorial service as follows: ‘It was a full house and it’s a fairly large church. There were about 300 people there. There were a lot of family and friends. It was by invitation, as far as I know.’

Reverend Tansey admitted that he was not told in advance that both princes would be attending the service.

He said, “Luckily I was uninformed, so I couldn’t say anything to people who kept asking me about it. I was blissfully ignorant.”

Reverend Tansey added: ‘It was wonderful that the princes were both able to be there to support their aunt and cousins.’

And a churchwarden, who wished to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: ‘It was wonderful that both princes were able to attend their uncle’s memorial service at St Mary’s Church yesterday.

‘The service was a lovely family affair to celebrate the life of such a special man. There were also many friends present and many members of the St Mary’s Church family.’

Yesterday it was revealed that despite his PR team previously telling the media that he did not intend to return to the UK for the anniversary of his uncle’s death, citing ongoing “security” concerns, Harry left the US on Tuesday and travelled to the UK without much fanfare.

He then traveled to Norfolk to attend the family’s memorial service.

Harry’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on his attendance.

Kensington Palace declined to comment on William’s behalf, saying it was a private matter.