Friday 9 September 2022

Prince Harry Returns to Windsor

The Duke of Sussex arrived at Balmoral last night following the passing of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. Despite a rush to Scotland by members of the family, it is understood only Charles and Anne had the opportunity to be with her in her final moments. A gathering of royals, including all of the Queen's children, their spouses, and Harry and William stayed in the Highlands last night. I understand princesses Beatrice, Eugenie and Zara Tindall arrived today to pay their respects.

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Prince Harry left Balmoral to return to Windsor this morning.

There was a very touching moments as Harry departed when he comforted a lady at Aberdeen Airport.

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A period of national mourning has begun and a plethora of duties will be undertaken by King Charles III over the next week. Her Majesty will travel by Royal Train to the Palace of Holyroodhouse where she will rest in state in the Throne Room. After that, it is thought there will be a procession along Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral and a service. It's likely there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects. Her Majesty's coffin will be taken by hearse from St Pancras to the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. Afterwards, the coffin will be taken to the Palace of Westminster for the lying in state. According to the Times, there will be a five-day period when the public have the opportunity to pay their respects. At some point after (between 17-19 September) Her Majesty's funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey.

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Prince Harry is expected to remain in the UK during this period. I expect the Duchess will remain with him, however I imagine they are trying to organize arrangements to possibly bring the children to the UK. I'll keep you updated on arrangements. With Charles now king, the Sussex children are now HRH Prince Archie of Sussex and HRH Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

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Scenes at Windsor today, where Harry and Meghan's Frogmore Cottage is located.

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Mourners gather outside the castle.

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Buckingham Palace this morning shared condolence arrangements at the royal residences. A statement read: "Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, it is His Majesty The King's wish that a period of Royal Mourning be observed from now until seven days after The Queen’s Funeral. The date of the Funeral will be confirmed in due course. Royal Mourning will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties.

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"Flags at Royal Residences were half masted yesterday, Thursday 8th September, and will remain half-masted until 0800hrs on the morning after the final day of Royal Mourning. The half-masting of flags at Royal Residences does not apply to the Royal Standard and the Royal Standard in Scotland when The King is in residence, as they are always flown at full mast. Guidance on flags at other public buildings has been issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Royal Residences will close until after The Queen’s Funeral. This includes The Queen's Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh. Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, The Queen's private estates, will also close for this period. In addition, Hillsborough Castle, The Sovereign’s official residence in Northern Ireland, will be closed."

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An online book of condolences can be signed here.

I was struck by the thought upon seeing Harry arrive last night that 25 years ago Harry and William found refuge in the days following their mother's death at Balmoral. Now a quarter of a century later they have travelled there to bid farewell to their beloved grandmother, apparently not even on speaking terms. It's a desperately sad and heartbreaking situation.

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I am reminded of the Queen's sense of fun and the joy she took in her grandchildren. Will anyone ever forget when Her Majesty and Prince Harry reacted to fighting talk from President Obama and First Lady Michelle ahead of the Invictus Games. "Oh really," she said with that unforgettable smile.

And of course, during the Jubilee we saw a sweet collaboration with Paddington.

It left an impression with many mourners.

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It was deeply moving to see people (from children to grandparents) leaving Paddington bears...

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...and illustrations of the bear leading Her Majesty home.

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In a momentous speech, King Charles III paid tribute to his beloved mother: "And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people. I pay tribute to my mother's memory and I honour her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you, and I share that sense of loss, beyond measure, with you all. Charles also paid tribute to his sons and shared his "love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."

Meanwhile, an update on Harry and Meghan's plans from Hello!: "HELLO!'s royal editor, Emily Nash, revealed she has received word that the couple will be remaining in the UK until after the Queen's funeral. She explained: 'We understand that Harry and Meghan will be staying in the UK until after the funeral. It's fair to say that they obviously want to be present for the Queen and pay tribute to her.'"

20 comments:

  1. It is my dearly held wish and hope that Prince William and Prince Harry can mend their rift. It hurts to see as a member of the public, but in the long run it is very sad for their children, and the rest of their family. Especially at this time family is so very important, but for them it seems essential. It adds an element of tragedy to this global grief. Praying for them, and the rest of their family. God bless the Queen. God Save The King.

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    1. The fact that much loved Harry - a grandson of a monarch, a son of a future monarch and a brother of a future monarch took his wife and son out of the UK demonstrates how unbearably dreadful matters descended. He saw what happened to his mother.

      British media houses, machinery and powers behind The Establishment including the men in grey suits at the palace" (as Diana called them) are 100% cooperatively and proactively complicit in the so called rift. Harry (as all good husbands and fathers) must do what is best for his wife and children.

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  2. Will Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lili be provided the security detail that they so long for (and deserve) now that Charles is King?

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    1. Very unlikely as they don't qualify according to the rules for taxpayer support. This is a British Home office decision and not up to the Monarch to decide. The rule is that you only get government security protection if you are one of the senior royals regularly carrying out royal duties on behalf of the Monarch. As well as the new King and Queen this covers the Cambridge family as the direct heirs to the throne, the Wessex duo, Princess Anne and probably the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester so long as they are needed. for royal duties. Harry and Meghan were also included until they decided to step down as senior Royals and no longer qualified. Previously, to help out with expenses, Charles also subsidised his sons and their wives with some separate funding from the Duchy of Cornwall to cover other things - eg a clothing allowance for each of their wives. However this was a quid pro quo in return for them helping to share the burden of public duties and has ceased now they are no longer on the royal roster. The Duke of York's family and other younger Gloucester and Kent family members are also expected to look for paid employment.
      Queen Elizabeth did muddy the waters a bit in the past by using her personal funds to provide some allowances to various elderly cousins eg the Kents. After the death of their father the Duke of Kent on active duty during the Second World War, King George the Sixth took his brother's family under his wing and they continued to live in grace and favour residences and the oldest Kents get financial support to this day. Hence we see glimpses of the very elderly Duke of Kent tottering around in Guards uniform and his sister Alexandra still apparently has a few minor patronages. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have also had some financial assistance, although more recently attempts have been made to drop them from the list. At their age it is a bit brutal to cut them off completely, so I should imagine the current situation will continue until they die off naturally. The rule is being more rigidly applied with the younger generation hence Beatrix, Eugenie and Princess Anne's family or the younger Kents and Gloucesters and Princess Margaret's offspring don't get security protection or significant financial help from the tax payer or royal purse.

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  3. I am not a wholly committed Sussex fan. I have concerns about some of the choices they have made in the last few years. That said, I still wish them all the best and was genuinely very sad that Harry journeyed to and from Scotland alone. That route must have horrendous associations with the days after his mother's death and to witness his grief in such an isolated position is painful as an onlooker and must be terrible to actually experience. I sincerely hope that there remains enough of a bond that he'll still be able to get some comfort from his family but, if not, I'm very glad that he has Meghan who will certainly be a support for him at this time.

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    1. Agree but please let's remember that The Duke & Duchess of Sussex are King Charles III son and daughter in-law, they are not and were never a celebrity seeking fan couple desperate for committed validation from anyone. Furthermore, we must respect that the choices they make as husband and wife do not and will never require our approval.

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    2. Oh, absolutely. Harry and Meghan, like the rest of us, only get one life and I support their right to live it as they wish. I also support freedom of speech even when, and perhaps especially(!), when I disagree with what's said.

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  4. Will Archie & Lili for sure be styled as HRH Prince & Princess? My understanding is that the 1917 Letters Patent are not completely clear whether the Monarch needs to that authoritatively (like Charles did when he explicitly made clear that William & Kate are now Prince & Princess of Wales) or if the HRH titles are automatic. Given the history/tension with Harry & Meghan, wouldn't it be strange if their children used HRH Prince/Princess titles but their parents are not allowed to?

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    1. Also surely Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will refrain from using them so long as they reside mainly in USA which has passed legislation to prohibit aristocratic titles? HRH , Prince and Princess smacks of bowing and scraping and will definitely infringe this rule.

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    2. Harry & Meghan are indeed HRH. They stopped undertaking public duties on behalf of the Queen therefore making themselves financially independent. Harry & Meghan are not tax-full members of the royal family relying on the public purse since pay pay their own taxes as private citizens. The logic is simply that since they live and work abroad, they do not need to use HRH because they are not representing the Queen in their work. Be that as it may, HRH is still their official titles.

      We must that Harry was born a younger son the the heir to the throne and in the male line. Since he was born a grandson to a reigning monarch he was styled HRH at birth. His paternal first cousins Princesses Beatrice & Eugenie of York, were born grand daughters to a reigning monarch and were styled HRH in the male line to the throne through their father Prince Andrew. Even Princess Elizabeth of York herself was born HRH because her own father was the second born son to a reigning monarch. He was the younger brother to the Prince of Wales. Elizabeth became Queen because her Uncle abdicated.

      As we know Prince William is the older son however his children's HRH titles were not automatic. Special permission was sought from and given by the Queen with George, Charlotte and Louis because they were all born great grand children to a reigning Monarch. Today, 1917 Letters Patent still apply. Charles is now a reigning Monarch who sired two "Princes of The Blood" in William & Harry - therefore all King Charles's grandchildren automatically become HRH. Archie and Lillibet are 6th & 7th in the male line to the British Throne - they may not use the titles (for now) but they are still senior royals (of The Charleston III Reign) whose positions now stand before Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne and all their children (of The Elizabethan II Reign). This is the system of primogeniture that has been in place for British succession for generations/centuries. If there is no male line, then it goes through the female line "Princess/Queen of The Blood" as was with Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. God bless the loving cherished memory of Elizabeth II. God save The King.



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  5. Charlotte, I'm so glad you included the video of the tea with the Queen and Paddington Bear. I hadn't seen the entire thing; don't know how I missed it. I too hope that the rift between Harry and his family is closed up. All these adults need to check their pride or whatever and act with kindness toward each other. I hope they can do it, especially now.

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  6. I am very sad that both Harry and William and the other grandchildren didn't get to say goodbye to the Queen before she died. I hope the rift between Wills and Harry will be healed now that their dad is king. I liked King Charles' speech today and that he mentioned his deep love for Harry and Meghan. May God bless them all and send them love and comfort in this sad time. May HM rest in peace

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  7. My deepest sympathy to Harry. He loved his grandmother very much and will miss her.

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  8. The King’s tribute to his mother was graceful and heartfelt. A good start.
    The family quarrel is so unfortunate. I don’t think any of them know a way back. I don’t think it’s likely for many years. A sad time.

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  9. It is so sad to hear of the Queen’s passing.

    Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes again.

    It is very difficult and sad to see the discords amongst royal members. Like in all families, not everyone agrees with one another.

    The late Queen has been such wonderful and powerful example of how one should behave towards each other, with dignity, with respect, with tolerance, and with love.

    The late Queen embrace, engage and was ever understanding, ever forgiving.

    She never speaks ill, never complains, ever dignified, ever unifying in all her ways.

    May the true blue royals follow her footsteps, and show the world that they are as deserving of the royal titles. May all united and stand strong behind the new King; may all royal walk in tandem with the King; may all step in same momentum; may the voices be heard as one, with gratitude and with joy that seeks to unite and strengthen bonds.

    It probably is the toughest thing to do, but do take heart, for over time, people will know and will believe in those who seeks to unite, who seeks to give love, who seeks to console, who seeks to give gratitude, who seeks to give thanks.

    May this be a time to heal, a time to forgive and a time to renew vows for the love of the family, to take on more then they could bear and continue to soldier on in strong resolve, as a united royal family.

    🙏🙏🙏


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  10. The picture of Harry arriving to Balmoral breaks my heart. He looks so heartbroken. I hope he will find comfort with the help of Meghan and good friends.

    I'm actually surprised at Harry and Meghan's plans to be away from their small children until after the funeral. That's a long time. Might there be some mistake about this?

    R

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    1. My assumption is that they'll try to get the children to the UK. I don't think it would be ideal if they (together or individually) skipped out on the funeral or similar events, and I would go so far to wager that they'd like to be there, with the Family, during this period of mourning. -op

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  11. I read the loveliest post: https://news.yahoo.com/voices-leave-harry-meghan-alone-092637694.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall It's very thoughtful and kind.

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    1. Sheryl from BC Canada10 September 2022 at 21:13

      Thank you , yes this was a very thoughtful and kind post. So nice to see it .

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  12. It also occurred to me that Harry and William had no mother from an early age. They had an unhappy home life and then boarding school. Their father was always very busy. The Queen is the only mother figure they had -- William was lucky to find Kate and her family early. I know all the grandchildren had very involved relationships with the Queen, but they are all lucky to still have a mother. I think this will sadden Harry a great deal -- that's probably why Meghan wanted to be with him at Balmoral. I'm glad that Lilibet got to meet the Queen even though it was brief. I hope someone can bring his children or Meghan will go and get them -- they will be a comfort to Harry.

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Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)