Prince Harry met privately with the Queen at least twice, while Meghan Markle spoke to her ahead Prince Philip’s funeral
Prince Harry broke the ice with the Queen after returning to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral but tensions within the royal family remain high.
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Prince Harry met the Queen privately “at least twice” and spoke to Prince Charles and Prince William after Prince Philip’s funeral, a friend of the Duke of Sussex has claimed.
According to The Sun, Omid Scobie, a co-author of a book on the Sussexes, Finding Freedom, reported that Prince Harry met with his grandmother after he flew to the UK to mourn his grandfather, Prince Philip.
Prince Harry left the UK on Tuesday – flying back to the California to be with his pregnant wife Meghan Markle – a day before the Queen marked her 95th birthday in the UK.
But Mr Scobie said Prince Harry had been able to speak with his grandmother “at least twice” during his time back in Britain.
It is the first time he has been able to speak to the Queen in person since his explosive interview with Oprah that saw the Sussexes claim they had faced racism in the royal family.
Writing on bazaar.com, Mr Scobie said: “The love and respect he has for his grandmother will always be unwavering”.
“This trip was to honour the life of his grandfather and support his grandmother and relatives.
“It was very much a family-focused period of time. Saturday broke the ice for future conversations but outstanding issues have not been addressed at any great length.
“The family simply put their issues to one side to focus on what mattered.”
Mr Scobie co-wrote Finding Freedom, an explosive book about the Duke and Duchesse’ decision to step away from royal life.
He confirmed that Prince Harry stayed at the couple’s former home of Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle while he was in the UK.
Prince Harry saw a number of family members, a source told Mr Scobie, including Princess Eugenie and her newborn son. Meantime, it has been reported that Meghan spoke with the Queen privately ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral. “Meghan spoke with Harry before his grandfather’s funeral. Meghan and Archie also spoke with the Queen earlier this week,” a source close to the couple told People magzine.
He also had the first face-to-face conversations with his father and brother since officially stepping down as a senior royal last year.
It came as the Queen celebrated her 95th birthday.
The monarch broke her silence for the first time since her husband’s death, saying she was “deeply touched” by the “support and kindness” shown to her and the royal family in their time of mourning.
‘DEEPLY PERSONAL’ LETTER
It also emerged that Prince Harry reportedly penned a “deeply personal” letter to Prince Charles before returning to the UK for his grandfather’s funeral.
The Duke of Sussex, who now lives in the US with his wife Meghan Markle and their son Archie after quitting royal life last year, reached out to his father as he prepared to return home and reunite with family whom he had not seen in a year.
He had apparently been “forced to write letters” due to a “complete communication breakdown”, sparked by his decision to leave England and compounded after he and the Duchess’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In his letters, Prince Harry “outlined his reasons for leaving” while promising to “respect the institution”, sources close to him told The Mirror.
His father and brother Prince William were taken aback by the interview with the US chat show queen. Prince William is understood to be unsure how to move ahead with their relationship, while Prince Charles remains “very hurt”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed in the interview that a member of the royal family commented on how “dark” their unborn child would be.
Prince Harry also claimed that his father and brother were “trapped” by the institution.
Royal sources told The Mirror the future kings were “outraged” at this remark.
“Truth be told, Harry didn’t really know what to expect before he came home, which is why he reached out before seeing everyone,” the source told The Mirror.
“He wrote a deeply personal note to his dad to try and set things straight but tensions are still running high and things haven’t exactly ironed out the way he had hoped.
Peace talks involving Prince Harry and his father, as well as Prince William and wife Kate Middleton were reportedly held following Prince Philip’s funeral, but it remains unclear if this helped improved their relationship.
THE ROYALS WHO ‘BARELY ACKNOWLEDGED’ HARRY AT FUNERAL
Prince Harry was barely acknowledged by certain members of his family at Prince Philip’s funeral – including Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, it is claimed.
According to a report in The Sun, Prince Harry has faced a “great deal of frostiness” since returning to the UK for his late grandfather’s funeral last Saturday.
The outlet reported that some members of Prince Harry’s extended family “did not acknowledge him before or during Prince Philip’s funeral service”.
It is thought that tensions are still running high in the aftermath of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“There is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry. There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah,” a source reportedly told the Daily Mail.
“They [the royals] are still very upset. They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.”
It has been claimed Prince William requested that Peter Phillips stand between him and his brother on the way into Prince Philip’s funeral.
The brothers were separated by Peter, the son of Princess Anne, as they walked into the service last weekend.
The decision meant that the brothers were 3.5 metres apart due to British COVID social distancing guidelines.
However, the funeral saw Peter hang back slightly to allow the brothers to walk ahead at the same pace.
Prince Harry returned to the UK last week to attend the funeral of Prince Philip, who dedicated his life to standing by the Queen’s side.
But the Duke of Sussex’s wife Meghan was unable to attend, advised against travelling by doctors due to her pregnancy.
So Prince Harry attended the service alone – walking just feet from Prince William, with Peter Phillips between them, as they processed behind the coffin.
They moved slowly with the regimented family group towards the chapel.
Prince Harry then stood behind Prince William as they stood in the chapel as the coffin was gently put down.
But later in the day Prince Harry was seen talking with his brother and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the moving funeral.
Prince William has previously called his wife the “peacemaker” between the brothers – and Kate stepped back to allow the pair to speak.
The brothers walked together for several minutes, moments after watching their grandfather’s coffin lowered into the vault in emotional scenes at St George’s Chapel.
After filing out of the service, they bowed to the Queen as she was driven away in her Bentley, before Prince Harry and Kate struck up a conversation.
As the mourners left the chapel, Prince William was then seen hanging back to let Prince Harry and Kate catch up to him.
The princes strode side-by-side, with Kate on Prince Harry’s right – with all three talking to each other.
Prince Harry and Prince William then walked slightly ahead of the Duchess and looked deep in conversation, glancing at each other while they chatted.
It has been the first time Prince Harry has been seen in the UK since his bombshell interview alongside Meghan – but he’s not expected to stay long.
Prince Harry was believed to have returned to Frogmore Cottage after reuniting with Prince William at their grandfather’s funeral.
The Duke of Sussex is expected to continue to self isolate after stepping out of his ten day quarantine period for the service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
The Duke of Sussex arrived from the US into the UK just over a week ago and is required to quarantine for ten days upon arrival.
He was self isolating in Frogmore Cottage all week but was allowed to attend his grandfather’s funeral on compassionate grounds.
British COVID rules state he must continue to self isolate, however, at “all other times”.
KATE, SOPHIE, QUEEN’S ‘NEW STRENGTH’
In the wake of Prince Philip’s passing, the Queen is said to be leaning upon Kate Middleton and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
Together with the Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie is said to be the new backbone of the royal family – a backbone not one of male dominance, but very much a female support and guide to how the monarchy is going to adapt and survive in the next two decades.
Royal expert Penny Junor said: “After all those years of having Philip by her side, both as a loving husband and a supportive consort, no-one will ever fill the void in the Queen’s life left by him.
“But she has the love of a nation and her own family to support her through the coming months. And she know she can always rely on Sophie and Kate.”
And Kate, while not being as close to the Queen as Sophie, is now seen to be a huge asset to the monarchy, not least for her attempts to act as the go-between in the rift between her husband William, and the errant Prince Harry.
PHILIP LEAVES PONIES, CARRIAGE TO GRANDDAUGHTER, LOUISE
Prince Philip has left his beloved ponies and carriage to granddaughter Lady Louise, 17.
The Duke of Edinburgh had taught the young royal, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, how to do carriage driving before his recent death.
Prince Philip took up carriage driving in the 1970s after switching from polo.
A royal source told reporters that Lady Louise will regularly exercise Prince Philip’s black ponies – Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm – at Windsor.
Lady Louise is said to have emerged as the Queen’s favourite grandchild following a lengthy stay at the monarch’s Scottish retreat, Balmoral, over the summer of 2019.
Originally published as Prince Harry met privately with the Queen at least twice, while Meghan Markle spoke to her ahead Prince Philip’s funeral
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