Prince Harry, Meghan to Leave U.K. ‘Almost Immediately’ for Kids

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You are heading home. Prince Harry Meghan Markle are expected to leave the United Kingdom shortly after attending Queen Elizabeth II‘s state funeral and committal service because they are anxious to see their children, a source exclusively tells Use Weekly.

“Meghan and Harry are preparing to return to Montecito almost immediately after the funeral, where they’ll be reunited with Archie and Lilibet after being separated for over two weeks,” the insider reveals to Us, noting it’s “the longest amount of time they’ve been apart from their children.”

The Duke and Duchess, who have a son, Archie, and a daughter, Lilibet, were originally going to Europe to speak at philanthropic events. While their original plan was to spend less than a week across the pond, they extended their stay after the queen’s death on September 8, reuniting with the royal family to grieve.

“They’ve missed the kids like crazy and have been FaceTiming them every day, but can’t wait to see and hold them again after a poignant few weeks,” the insider tells Us.

Harry rushed to the queen’s side as her health declined but he didn’t make it in time to say goodbye before she passed. Reports alleged that the Invictus Games founder, 38, was informed that his grandmother died only five minutes before the official announcement on September 8 — and was the “last to know.” King Charles III allegedly called Harry when he was still on his way to Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and by the time he landed, Buckingham Palace had informed the public of the queen’s death.

In a statement to The Associated Press, a spokesperson for the King reacted to these reports. Daily Mail on Sunday, September 18, hours before the queen’s state funeral on Monday, September 19. “The public was only informed after every family member had been informed,” the statement read, without confirming or denying when Harry was informed.

Harry and Meghan, 41 years old, have reunited for several outings with the royal family since the announcement. They joined the royal family on September 10. Prince William Princess Katethey spoke to Windsor’s mourners. Four days later, they made another public appearance at the service to start the queen’s lying in state at Westminster Hall.

The brothers also stood guard at the queen’s coffin for the grandchildren’s vigil on Saturday, September 17. Harry was only allowed to wear his military uniform on Saturday.

Harry lost his titles after he and Meghan took their senior royal duties back in 2020. Buckingham Palace announced, “Neither he nor he” Prince AndrewAfter being accused of sexual abuse, he was stripped of his military titles. He would now be allowed to wear his military regalia. Despite backlash, they made an exception, with many noting that the circumstances in which Andrew and Harry lost honorary military titles were very different.

The Duke of Sussex, who completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan and served 10 years in the army, was allowed to wear his dress uniform for the grandchildren’s vigil on Saturday. However, unlike brother William, Harry’s uniform did not bear his grandmother’s initials on the shoulder.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at queen's funeral
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Harry was not wearing a uniform to Monday’s state funeral. Both he and Andrew were, however, part of the processions leading the queen’s coffin to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral and escorting the casket to Wellington Arch after the service.

Despite some minor hiccups royal expert Myko ClellandTelled UsThis has been a chance for the family to repair their fractured relationships. A rift between the brothers only widened after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals and got worse after the Archewell cofounders’ bombshell tell-all CBS interview in March 2021.

“We’ve seen the brothers out together, and we’ve seen them sitting near each other at occasions. And I’m sure they must have talked behind closed doors as well,” Clelland noted, explaining that the family extended “a number of olive branches” to Harry in the days following the queen’s passing. “I think now is the time grief brings families together, and we’ve seen this coming together. So, if it’s going to happen, I think now is the best possible chance.”

Those peace offerings included William invitation for Meghan and Harry to make their appearance in Windsor greeting mourners with him and Kate, 40, as well as Charles’ decision to mention his younger son and American daughter-in-law in his inaugural speech as the new monarch.

“I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” the king, 73, stated in the September 9 address.