Archie and Lilibet could fly to the UK for Queen’s funeral

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been away from their US-based children longer than anticipated after the Queen’s unexpected death. Now the Sussexes have a choice to make.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could fly their two children to Britain for the Queen’s funeral, according to reports.

The US-based couple have confirmed they will stay in the UK until after the Queen’s state funeral next Monday, but Archie and Lilibet are still at home in California.

The Sussexes are said to be trying to decide whether Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland should fly out with the kids next week, London’s Telegraph is reporting.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reunited with Prince William and Kate over the weekend as they mourned the Queen at Windsor. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Ragland is reportedly caring for three-year-old Archie and one-year-old Lilibet at the couple’s California mansion.

The family have already spent more than a week apart, and the Queen’s funeral isn’t until next Monday.

The Sussexes will reportedly stay in Britain until the end of the royal mourning period, which ends seven days after the service on September 19.

The Sussexes’ children, Archie and Lilibet, are currently being cared for in the US by their grandmother, Doria Ragland. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski

The pair had only expected to be away from home for seven days while they toured Europe.

But the Queen’s unexpected death at Balmoral last week meant extending their trip.

The couple were due to attend an awards show in London on the night the Queen died, but Prince Harry, along with other royals, rushed to be by the monarch’s side after doctors said they were “concerned” for her health.

It is understood that neither Prince William or Prince Harry made it in time to say goodbye to their grandmother before she died “peacefully” at her beloved Balmoral estate.

Meghan did not accompany her husband to Balmoral after Prince Charles reportedly said it wasn’t “right” that she attend, while Kate remained in Windsor to look after the couple’s three children.

The Queen and Prince Philip, with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland, meet Archie. Picture: Getty Images

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.are expected to attend their great-grandmother’s funeral while other royal children, including Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall’s kids, Mia, Lena and Lucas, will also likely be present.

The Queen has four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, but it is not yet confirmed how many of these will be among the reported 2000 people expected to attend the service.

Other mourners expected at the funeral include Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss and US President Joe Biden.

(Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, with their parents, are expected to attend the Queen’s funeral. Picture: AFP

Since the Queen died, Meghan has cancelled a scheduled appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show in New York and put her controversial Spotify podcast, Archetypes, on hold. A new episode had been scheduled to drop on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, the world was stunned to see the Sussexes reunite with Prince William and Kate in a show of unity after years of alleged tensions.

The foursome appeared to put their differences aside to greet huge crowds on the Berkshire estate as they collectively grieved the Queen, who died at Balmoral aged 96 on September 8.

Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, is reportedly looking after Archie and Lilibet at the Sussexes’ California mansion. Picture: AFP

It was Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, who invited Prince Harry and Meghan to join him and Kate (now Princess Catherine) to look at tributes, his spokesman confirmed.

And the two brothers seemed united in grief, despite their relationship reportedly being at “rock bottom”.

Mourner Tina Ward, who met the royals outside the castle, told The Sun it was good to see them out together.

Could the war between the estranged brothers be over? Picture: AFP

“It’s really nice to see the family united in grief,” she told the outlet.

“It’s a shame it’s in grief, but it’s nice that they’ve come together, here in the town in which the Queen resided.

“I’m sure she would have been absolutely delighted. As a nan myself, I’d be absolutely delighted if my grandchildren had made up and were reunited.”

The once-close siblings are said to have fallen out following the Sussexes’ departure from the royal family and move to California.

And their apparent feud became worse after Prince Harry and Meghan gave several high-profile – and controversial – interviews where they spoke negatively about life as members of the royal family.

– with the Sun

Originally published as Archie and Lilibet could fly to the UK for Queen’s funeral