The passing of Queen Elizabeth II marked a somber and highly publicized moment for the Royal Family, with emotions running high and complex family dynamics playing out in the midst of grief.
The protocol surrounding her death had been meticulously planned for decades, codenamed “Operation London Bridge.”
Yet, even with extensive preparations, certain details about the royal family’s response to her passing have come under scrutiny, especially concerning the involvement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The Sussexes’ Plans and Meghan’s Absence from Balmoral
When Queen Elizabeth passed away unexpectedly on September 8, 2022, Prince Harry was already in the UK for charity events.
He had intended to travel to Balmoral Castle in Scotland with his wife, Meghan, as they had previously planned.
However, a change of plans saw Meghan staying behind, with reports suggesting that Prince Charles had asked Meghan to remain in England to avoid any potential tension within the royal ranks.
This left Harry to make the journey to Scotland alone.
Though a spokesman for the Sussexes initially confirmed that both Harry and Meghan would be traveling together, the Duchess of Sussex was eventually excluded.
It was said that her presence might disrupt the family’s ability to focus on saying their final goodbyes to the Queen without unnecessary distractions.
According to royal insiders, Prince Charles believed the Queen had days left to live, not hours, and he wanted to keep the atmosphere as calm as possible.
It was during this critical moment that Harry received a call from his father, confirming that Meghan was not welcome at Balmoral.
Prince Harry’s Response and His Journey to Scotland
Harry’s reaction to the news was mixed. In his memoir Spare, Harry describes the frustration he felt upon hearing that Kate Middleton, too, had opted not to join the family at Balmoral.
This seemingly small detail helped calm him down, as it gave him some context for why Meghan wasn’t included.
He and Meghan quickly made arrangements to fly to Scotland, but logistical issues meant that he had to charter a plane from Luton, as commercial flights had already ceased for the day.
Despite the rush, Harry managed to make it to Scotland, though, by the time he arrived, his family members had already left.
The Strained Relationship Between Harry and William
The strained relationship between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, has been widely reported, and the events surrounding the Queen’s death seemed to exacerbate these tensions.
According to biographer Robert Hardman, there was no communication between the brothers at the time, even though Harry was in the UK and William was heading to Scotland.
The brothers’ rift, fueled by Harry’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the claims of racism and mistreatment towards Meghan, still lingered in the air, making any interaction between them incredibly difficult.
In Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, Hardman writes that William likely did not consider this the right time to bridge the gap with his brother.
The raw emotions stemming from their public fallout made it virtually impossible for them to have any meaningful conversation, especially in such a delicate moment.
The Queen’s Passing and the Family’s Private Grief
When the Queen passed away, it was an intensely emotional moment for the Royal Family.
The only members of the family who were able to be present at her side before her death were Charles, Camilla, and Princess Anne, as they were already in Scotland for prior engagements.
However, Anne was the only one who stayed with the Queen until her final moments.
Charles had momentarily stepped away, going outside to gather mushrooms, when he was informed of her death.
This moment, though deeply personal, also marked a significant shift in the monarchy, as Charles was immediately addressed as “Your Majesty,” signaling his ascension to the throne.
The Fallout and Further Tensions Between Harry and His Family
In the days following the Queen’s death, Harry’s relationship with his family continued to deteriorate.
His brother William and father Charles had left Scotland before Harry arrived, and there was no further communication between them.
While Harry’s memoir and the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan shed light on many aspects of the couple’s royal life, details surrounding the Queen’s passing were kept relatively private.
However, the absence of Meghan at Balmoral has been a topic of speculation, and some believe that if she had been present, it could have provided more insight into the family’s dynamics during this pivotal moment.
The relationship between Harry and his family became even more strained in the months following the Queen’s funeral, culminating in the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare.
While the details surrounding the death of the Queen remain somewhat limited in both his book and the Netflix series, it’s clear that the emotional toll of the events would have lasting effects on the Royal Family, with Harry and Meghan’s separation from the institution continuing to influence their public and private lives.