Meghan too pregnant to fly, can Harry’s solo trip for Prince Philip’s funeral heal the royal rift?

Prince Philip was believed to be hugely disappointed by Harry and Meghan. His funeral may mend fences.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service in 2017. Picture: AFP

The Duke of Sussex will return to the UK alone this week without the Duchess of Sussex to attend his grandfather’s funeral on Saturday. Meghan, 39, who is heavily pregnant with their second child, consulted her doctor on whether she could travel and was advised not to make the trip.

Prince Harry, 36, is expected to fly over in the next 24 hours, in what will be his first return to the UK since he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties last March. It will be the royal family’s first reunion with Harry since the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, where they claimed a member of the royal family raised “concerns” about the skin colour of their son, Archie, and the “institution” ignored Meghan’s suicidal pleas for help.

Saturday’s funeral will also be the first ceremonial event for Harry since the Queen stripped the Sussexes of all official royal titles earlier this year, including Harry’s military links, after they confirmed they would not be resuming royal duties.

He lost his prized role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, which he took over from Prince Philip in 2017. It means that while the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Earl of Wessex are expected to attend in military uniform, Harry is expected to wear a suit, as will his uncle, the Duke of York, who stepped back from public life “for the foreseeable future” in 2019 over his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Harry and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh share a joke on the balcony during Trooping the Colour in 2014. Picture: Getty

As part of the “Megxit” deal, Harry and Meghan also agreed not to use their HRH titles, but still retain them, meaning Harry could technically be styled without his HRH as simply “the Duke of Sussex” in the order of service for his grandfather’s funeral, a decision that is expected to be made by the Queen.

Removing his HRH from the order of service would probably be a controversial decision, echoing the furore last March over the Sussexes’ attendance at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, their final engagement as working royals, when they were not included in the Queen’s procession.

Despite heightened tensions, the Queen has insisted the Sussexes remain “much-loved” family members who are still welcome at family occasions. Senior royal aides hope the family will be able to put aside their differences and rally to give Philip a fitting send-off.

A source said: “One would hope everybody will respect the event and behave accordingly. There is a genuine sadness and a real desire to do it right and get it right for the duke.”

It is understood that Harry will stay at his UK home, Frogmore Cottage, Windsor, and it is thought he is keen to spend some time with the Queen while he is the UK.

Under current travel restrictions, most people who test negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours of arriving into the UK must quarantine for 10 days but can end isolating after five days if another test is negative. A spokesman for Harry would not confirm how long he would remain in the UK.

The Sussexes paid tribute on their Archewell website following the death on Friday, with the message: “In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021. Thank you for your service ... you will be greatly missed.”

Britian's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, walk outside Westminster Abbey during the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Philip was believed to be hugely disappointed by Harry and Meghan’s decision to step away from official duties last year, which led to the Queen stripping them of all official titles. But in a recent interview, Harry hinted that the relationship had been repaired, describing calls with his grandparents that suggested Philip had mellowed: “We’ve Zoomed them a few times. They’ve seen Archie running around.”

Harry, who is understood to have spoken to Charles since Philip died on Friday, also told Winfrey last month he felt “really let down by my father” and described his relationship with William, 38, as “space”.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, said gathering for Philip’s funeral could allow the family to have “a comparative bit of privacy” together.

Harry and Meghan during interview with Oprah Winfrey. Picture: CBS

“I think there might be a bit of consolation in it for the royal family actually, because it just gives them a chance to be close and to have a comparative bit of privacy.

“Obviously the whole ceremony will be watched by everybody, but you think of the complexities of the dynamics in that family and we have to think of Harry, so far away. I’m sure he’ll come — but not being, the whole time, in the public eye might just help.

“Many a family gather and get over tension and broken relationships at the time of a funeral. Something very profound unites them all again. And that would be true for this family, I’m sure.”

The Sunday Times

z