Prince Philip death: Prince Harry making ‘immediate plans’ to return to the UK for funeral

Prince Harry is reportedly preparing to return to the UK in coming days for Prince Philip’s funeral.

Prince Harry is “united in grief” with his family over the death of Prince Philip and plans to return to the UK for the funeral following talks with Prince Charles.

The Duke of Sussex is reported to be making immediate plans to fly back to Britain.

It would mark the first time that Prince Harry has come face-to-face with his family since him and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey for their explosive interview last month.

Sources told the Daily Mirror that the Duke of Sussex spoke to several members of his family following Prince Philip’s death yesterday, including Prince Charles.

Another source told the newspaper that Harry spoke to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie and said he would return to Britain.

The insider told the Mirror: “He said he wants to be with everyone and was already making arrangements to come home.”

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Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have paid tribute to Britain's Prince Philip following his death on April 9, 2021 as speculation builds about their plans to attend the funeral. Picture: Adrian DENNIS / AFP

The Press Association also reported it’s “likely Harry will be among the small number of mourners” at the private service.

However, while Harry is poised to return, it is currently unclear if Meghan will join him even though she reportedly wants to be by his side.

Meghan, 39, is currently pregnant – thought to be entering her third trimester – and undoubtedly needs to take advice from doctors before embarking on the 12-hour flight from California.

The pair paid tribute to Harry’s grandfather this afternoon, leaving a message on their Archewell website.

A source close to the family told Daily Mail: “Harry will absolutely do his utmost to get back to the UK and be with his family.

“He will want nothing more than to be there for his family, and particularly his grandmother, during this awful time.

“Meghan is obviously pregnant so she will need to take advice from her doctors about whether it is safe for her to travel, but I think Harry will definitely go.”

The Duke of Edinburgh passed away “peacefully” at Windsor Castle yesterday aged 99 after being by the Queen‘s side for more than 70 years – with the Royal Family now in mourning.

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And, according to insiders, Harry is now preparing to fly back to be with them for the first time since quitting the UK in March last year.

A royal source told the New York Post: “Harry was extremely close to his grandfather.

“He will, of course, be there, no matter how difficult relations are between the Sussexes and the family.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s body will lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel, where Harry and Meghan wed in 2018.

As the consort of the Queen, the dedicated royal is entitled to a state funeral but will not be given one – a decision the duke made before his death.

Instead, he will be given a military funeral, with a private service held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor and burial in Frogmore Gardens.

RELATED: Last official photo of Philip and the Queen

The gate of the Estate where Prince Harry and his wife US actress Meghan Markle have their house, in Montecito, California, where they are currently said to be isolating. Picture: VALERIE MACON / AFP

The public has been urged to stay away due to the threat of coronavirus.

The Duke of Edinburgh died just weeks after Meghan and Harry gave a shocking interview to Oprah Winfrey alleging racism within the royal family.

The couple famously quit their royal duties in March last year to pursue a “private life” on the other side of the Atlantic.

It’s reported Harry has recently been self isolating at his LA mansion just so he could race back if his grandfather’s health deteriorated.

During their Oprah interview, the couple spoke of how they had grown close to the Queen despite reports of tension after they stepped down from the firm.

And they said they had been in close contact with the monarch when Philip was admitted to hospital earlier this year.

RELATED: Prince Philip death live blog

Harry was reportedly still very close with Prince Philip. Picture: JOHN STILLWELL/POOL/AFP

Meghan said during the Oprah interview: “This morning, I woke up earlier than H, and saw a note from someone on our team in the UK saying that the Duke of Edinburgh had gone to the hospital.

“But I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check in.”

Philip spent a month in hospital and underwent heart surgery after suffering from an infection earlier this year.

He was then released last month, taken back to Windsor Castle where he tragically passed away yesterday.

Buckingham Palace said it will now “join with people around the world in mourning his loss”.

A statement from the Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

“Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been reproduced here with permission