In his first address as monarch, Charles III praised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The new Sovereign, who became King when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday at Balmoral Castle aged 96, said he wished to ‘express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas’ The move is likely to be viewed by royal commentators as a bid to finally draw a line under recent tumult.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plunged the monarchy into crisis during the twilight years of the Queen’s reign after quitting frontline royal duties and moving to California two years ago. The saga caused a rift between Harry and his brother William, racism allegations against the royals, and claims the Firm failed to help a suicidal Meghan.
Harry appeared to insinuate in a mental health podcast that his father, the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh had failed as parents, while the family was still mourning Prince Philip’s death.
The Duke of Sussex was overcome with emotion as he entered Windsor Castle this afternoon after missing his grandmother’s deathbed.
King Charles III met mourners at Buckingham Palace this afternoon, shaking hands and accepting condolences to chants of ‘God save the King’ and impromptu renditions of the national song. A woman kissed him. He viewed flowers and memorials to his late mother at the gates before entering the palace.
Harry landed at Heathrow this lunchtime after hopping on an early morning BA aircraft, when he comforted an airport worker with a reassuring hand on her shoulder after she sent him her condolences.
Despite the short visit, the Sussexes won’t return to California until after the state funeral on September 19.
The Duke of Sussex arrived last night and left first this morning.
In his first address as monarch, Charles III greeted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry at St Paul’s Cathedral, 2022
Onlookers cheered as Charles talked to mourners of his mother.
The new monarch greeted everyone for their well wishes, shaking countless hands after emerging off his state Bentley.
Harry and Meghan’s titles haven’t altered, and he’s still too far down the line to be king.
The Sussexes’ children, Archie and Lili, are now prince and princess. It’s unknown if they’ll utilize titles they weren’t given at birth.
After the Queen’s death, Charles becomes King and head of The Firm, and William becomes heir apparent.
While Harry and Meghan spent time with the Queen, their relationship with Charles and William is strained.
Speech by Charles III
‘I’m deeply sorry. Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and my family. We owe her the most heartfelt gratitude any family can due their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding, and example.
Queen Elizabeth spent a life well, honoured her vow to destiny, and is much lamented. I renew my vow of lifetime service.
‘Along with the personal loss my family is feeling, we share with so many of you in the UK, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth, and across the world, a tremendous sense of appreciation for the more than 70 years my Mother served so many nations as Queen.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she swore in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, short or long, to the service of her peoples. This was more than a pledge; it defined her life. She was loyal.
Her dedication as Sovereign never wavered amid change, development, joy, celebration, and grief.
In her service, we observed a love of tradition and a fearless embracing of progress, which made us great as a life. Her reign was marked by love, admiration, and respect.
‘And, as every member of my family will attest, Mom matched these talents with warmth, humour, and an unfailing capacity to see the best in others.
I honor my mother’s life of service. I know her death saddens many of you, and I share your loss.
When the Queen came to the throne, Britain and the globe were still struggling with the Second World War’s consequences and living by prior customs. In the previous 70 years, our society has grown multi-cultural and multi-religious.
‘State institutions changed. Our nation and the wider family of Realms, whose talents, traditions, and achievements I am so proud of, have developed and flourished. Our values must stay stable.
‘The Monarchy’s function and obligations remain, as does the Sovereign’s relationship and responsibility to the Church of England, where my religion is deeply based.
‘In this faith and the beliefs it inspires, I was raised to embrace a feeling of obligation to others and to respect our unique history, freedoms, and responsibilities.
‘As The Queen did with steadfast devotion, I now solemnly swear to safeguard the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.
‘And wherever you live in the UK or other realms and territories, and whatever your background or views, I will serve you with devotion, respect, and love, as I have all my life. New obligations will transform my life.
‘I can’t devote as much time and energy to the charities and causes I care about. But I believe this critical effort will continue in capable hands.
‘This is a time of transformation in my family. Camilla, my sweet wife, helps me. She’s my Queen Consort for her 17 years of public service since our marriage.
I know she will bring her steady devotion to duty to her new role. As my Heir, William inherits my Scottish titles.
He replaces me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the Duchy’s obligations. Today, I’m happy to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I’ve been privileged to wear for so much of my life and duty.
Our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, with Catherine at his side, continue to inspire and lead national conversations, bringing the peripheral to the center where critical support may be given. I love Harry and Meghan as they create their lives abroad.
In a week, we will bury my mother as a nation, Commonwealth, and global community. Let us gain strength from her example in our sorrow.
‘On behalf of my family, I appreciate your condolences and support. I can’t convey how much I value them.
‘And to my lovely Mama, as you make your final great journey to join my late Papa, thank you.
‘Thank you for your years of service to our family and the family of countries. May angels serenade you to sleep.
After visiting the Queen for the first time in two years, Harry told NBC he was making sure she was ‘protected’ and had the ‘proper people around her’ He sidestepped a question about whether he missed Charles and William, having met his father for 15 minutes while in the UK.
In the 2021 Oprah interview, Harry stated he felt let down by Charles and that ‘there’s a lot of hurt’ and that his father stopped receiving his calls before Megxit.
Meghan accused Kate of making her cry before her wedding, and the palace failed to clarify claims suggesting it was the other way around.
Harry said he and William were on ‘separate paths’ and had good and terrible days in a 2019 ITV documentary. He told Oprah he loved his brother but their relationship was’space at the moment,’ adding ‘time heals all problems, hopefully’
The royals fear Harry’s 2022 memoirs might revive old scars and cause a new crisis.
Harry traveled to Balmoral to join his father, brother, and family at the Queen’s bedside, but Meghan stayed in the south.
Harry returned to Meghan at 8.28am, sitting alone in the back of a Range Rover as he left the Royal Family’s Scottish home. Five police outriders led him to Aberdeen airport at 9.20am, where he boarded a 10am flight to London.
Harry wore a black suit and carried a shoulder bag to the plane.
As the Prince prepared to board a British Airways plane, an airport worker expressed her sympathy.
The yellow-jacketed woman addressed Prince Harry. The king smiled and touched her shoulder before departing for Heathrow.
The duke arrived in Scotland yesterday, 15 minutes after Her Majesty’s death was announced.
He arrived at Balmoral after nightfall with his head low and partially veiled. Later, he left.
Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie flew up on an RAF plane.
They didn’t reach her estate before she died. Initial reports indicated his sibling will join.
Harry was air when Buckingham Palace announced his grandmother’s death.
He arrived at Balmoral 1.5 hours after the historic statement.
Courtiers delivered the announcement at 6.30pm, barely over an hour after Prince William and other senior royals came to join Prince Charles at the Queen’s house. Downing Street claimed Liz Truss was told around 4.30pm.
When the world was informed the saddest news, Harry’s Cessna was still in the air, approaching Aberdeen Airport.
His flight was scheduled to land at 6.29pm, a minute before the statement. Flight data shows it left Luton Airport at 5.35pm, 20 minutes late. Aberdeen was reached at 1h11m.
16 minutes after the palace’s statement, he landed at 6.46pm.
Harry joined alone to Windsor Castle, arriving at 7.52pm to join other members of the Royal Family in mourning the Queen’s death.
As the Range Rover entered the Balmoral estate, he looked pale.
As he mourned his grandmother, he may have considered his destiny as ruler.
Despite recent problems, she remained fond of him, and he could make her laugh.
By the time he arrived, his and Meghan’s Archewell website homepage had been changed with a blacked-out page honoring Queen Elizabeth.
Earlier in the day, there was misunderstanding about Meghan’s travel plans.
The duke will attend the Queen’s funeral, and Meghan will likely join him. In 2021, she was pregnant and missed Philip’s funeral.
An absent duchess would be seen as disrespectful, but a public presence with Harry and the rest of the royal family may be tough.
King George VI’s brother, the former Edward VIII, returned for the funeral, but the Duchess of Windsor, previously Wallis Simpson, was absent.
She stayed in the U.S.
Meghan was the first American divorcee to marry a senior royal since Mrs. Simpson, and she and Harry went to California in March 2020.
Harry might reconcile with his family as they mourn the Queen’s death.
As the new Windsor head, Charles might welcome Harry and Meghan back as part-time working royals, but this could contradict with their Netflix and Spotify business deals and new life apart from the monarchy.
The Queen’s death could be a time to build bridges, but it’s unclear if they have been destroyed.