Prince Harry is preparing to return to the UK for the first time since leaving his royal duties following Prince Philip’s death – but the question remains whether Meghan will join him.
Harry’s grandfather’s death comes weeks after they gave an interview to Oprah accusing Royal Family of racism, which was broadcast while Philip was in the hospital.
The Sussexes, faced with phone calls to postpone the interview because Philip was feeling unwell, accused an unnamed royal family, neither the queen nor the duke, of expressing concern about how dark their skin color was. Archie’s son would be before he was born.
They have since launched a charity, accepted lucrative business deals with Netflix and Spotify, held public talks, appeared at Zoom conferences, and on March 7 they criticized the Royal Family in a sit-down interview with Oprah that was watched around the world.
Meghan is now pregnant with their second child and is about to give birth sometime this summer, but she has not disclosed exactly when. The couple have not commented on a plan to return to the UK.
According to government guidelines, people traveling to England must isolate themselves from arrival in the country for 10 full days. However, arriving travelers can take a test five days after arriving in the country and – if negative – come out of their own isolation. This is the most likely option for Prince Harry.
A source close to the family told DailyMail.com today: ‘Harry will absolutely do his best to return to the UK and be with his family.
“He wants nothing more than to be there for his family, and especially for his grandmother, in these terrible times.
“Meghan is clearly pregnant so she will have to seek advice from her doctors as to whether it is safe for her to travel, but I think Harry will definitely go.”
Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Philip on Christmas Day 2017. The couple have not been in the UK since March last year
Prince Philip’s death comes just a month after Harry and Meghan gave an interview to Oprah alleging racism in the royal family. It was broadcast while Philip was in the hospital
What kind of reception they will receive after their extraordinary interview and behavior over the past year is uncertain.
The most damaging allegation they made during the Oprah interview was that someone in the family had made comments against Harry and expressed “ concern ” about his son Archie’s skin color. Meghan also suggested the concern was why Archie wouldn’t get the title of Prince.
Harry did not want to reveal who in the family had said it, but Oprah said after the interview aired that he assured her, off camera, that it was neither the Queen nor Prince Philip.
Meghan also shared how she pleaded for help when she was suicidal, but said the institution did not support her. The Queen said the issues were concerning, but that “some memories may differ” and that the matter was a family matter that would be handled privately.
Harry would be back in the UK on July 1 for the unveiling of a statue of Diana.
Royal commentators had said he intended to be there despite Meghan’s upcoming due date and despite the rift between him and William.
It is not clear whether he intended to return in June, when Prince Philip would have turned 100, and when a Trooping of the Color was planned.
There was huge criticism that the interview was broadcast on CBS at a time when Prince Philip was seriously ill in the hospital. The pair filmed it weeks in advance.
CBS presenter Gayle King, who is a close friend of Oprah, claimed afterwards that the couple had a contingency plan that if Prince Philip’s condition deteriorated, the interview would not have aired. It has not been confirmed by TV broadcasters that this is the case.
The interview was sold by CBS to dozens of countries around the world, and CBS reportedly paid $ 8 million (£ 5.8 million) for it.
The Queen said after the interview that the allegations were ‘concerning’ and that she would be hearing them at Buckingham Palace.
Although in the interview Harry claimed to have always had a good relationship with the Queen, it is unclear what kind of relationship he now has with Prince William and his father, Prince Charles.
Meghan claimed during the interview that contrary to public reports based on palace sources, she did not let Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, cry during the lead up to her wedding and that it was Kate who made her cry instead.
She also alleged that she had been set up by the ‘institution’ and was suicidal at one point, but that when she sought mental health help, she was told she couldn’t get it.
The Royal Family has not commented on those claims.
Buckingham Palace announced Prince Philip’s death today just after noon – describing the Queen’s ‘deep sorrow’
The Duke of Edinburgh spent his last days at Windsor Castle with his wife after a 28-night hospital stay after being admitted in mid-February for an infection and pre-existing heart condition.
Her Majesty announced her husband’s death at noon when the Union Flag was lowered at half mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
The Royal Family said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The royal family mourns his loss along with people around the world.
As with all royal births, marriages and deaths, an announcement of Philip’s death was displayed outside Buckingham Palace, while mourners are already laying flowers at Windsor Castle, where he is expected to be buried in Frogmore Gardens after a small family service at St George’s Chapel.
A state funeral including a fleet of boats on the Thames to mark his life seems impossible due to covid restrictions, but the Duke would not have liked the idea because he ‘didn’t want a fuss.’ Details will emerge in the coming days.
A frail Philip was last seen as he left the hospital on March 16, and his death plunges the nation and royal family into mourning, ending Philip’s life of service to Great Britain and Elizabeth, the Queen who gave him up. since her teens. The couple shared their 73rd wedding anniversary last November, and he would turn 100 on June 10 this year.
The Union Flag was lowered to half mast this afternoon at Buckingham Palace, just after it was revealed that Prince Philip died shortly before his 100th birthday.