Celebrity
How Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Reacted To The Queen’s Death
Harry paid tribute to his “granny” and recalled her “first meetings” with his family in a new letter.
Prince Harry is dealing with the loss of his beloved grandmother as his wife Meghan Markle and the world mourns with him. On Sept. 12, four days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry paid tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in an emotional letter, calling her a “guiding compass” and affectionately referring to her as “Granny.”
“In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen—and in mourning her loss—we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty,” Harry began his letter, shared by royals reporter Omid Scobie on Twitter. “She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy.” Harry then recalled a quote from the Queen after the death of her husband Prince Philip: “Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.”
The Duke of Sussex went on to remember his “first meetings” with his grandmother, mentioning his wife Meghan and their two children, 3-year-old son Archie and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet, who was named after the Queen. "Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren,” he wrote. “I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between.”
Harry concluded his statement by recognizing his father’s new role as King Charles III and expressing gratitude for his grandmother’s legacy. “Thank you for your commitment to service,” he wrote. "Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile. We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
Before Harry released his tribute to the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s charitable foundation Archewell posted a simple tribute to their website. “In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022,” the organization’s homepage reads.
Prior to Her Majesty’s stay at Balmoral, Harry and Meghan last saw Queen Elizabeth II during the UK’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, when the couple privately visited with his grandmother and introduced their 1-year-old daughter Lilibet to her for the first time.
Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement that Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8 at age 96 with her family by her side at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. However, Prince Harry arrived an hour after she passed away. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the royal family’s Twitter account announced. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Earlier that day, Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement announcing that Queen Elizabeth II had been placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle. “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the statement read, adding that she “remains comfortable.”
Soon after, it was confirmed that many royal family members were rushing to Balmoral to be by the Queen’s side, including Prince Harry, who was already in the UK and scheduled to appear at the WellChild Awards in London alongside his wife. As reported by BBC, Harry had traveled to Scotland separately and was not joined by Meghan. Harry’s brother Prince William also rushed to Balmoral, but his wife Kate Middleton did not join him either.
