The Sussexes had to change into traditional mourning dress before Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince William and Kate could go on their royal walkabout, a royal expert revealed on US TV today.
In order to meet mourners with the Prince and Princess of Wales outside Windsor Castle on Saturday afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had to “fast go and get dressed,” according to NBC’s Daisy McAndrew.
According to the NBC News royal analyst, Meghan needed to have her “hair and makeup” done and the walkabout had been “planned to be about an hour before they arrived,” according to the network’s Today programme.
Despite their well-known strained relationship, William and Harry put their disagreements aside last Thursday as they visited flower tributes placed for the late Queen with their spouses.
According to insiders, the new heir to the throne texted his brother Harry to join them in greeting well-wishers outside the palace, which William believed to be a “essential gesture of togetherness.”
NBC News royal analyst Daisy McAndrew discussed the Windsor Castle walkabout on the network’s Today programme.
Interestingly, Ms. McAndrew noted that the reason the walkabout arrived so much later than expected — it had been set for about an hour before they arrived — was because Harry and Meghan had to change.
They had to rapidly change into new clothes in order to do Meghan’s hair and makeup since they weren’t dressed in the appropriate traditional mourning apparel. That explains why they were late.
The Duke of Sussex paid a heartfelt homage to his late grandmother, the Queen, today, praising her “good counsel” and “infectious grin” and describing her as a “guiding compass” for her dedication to duty and devotion.
The Duke also said that he wants to honour his father at the beginning of his reign as King in a statement issued today, which was thought to have been delayed a day out of respect for the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Also mentioned were Harry’s “darling wife,” Meghan Markle, his appreciation for the Queen hugging her “loving great-grandchildren,” and how much he “cherished” his interactions with the 96-year-old.
The Duke stated today: “We are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her devotion to service and duty as we celebrate the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, and as we grieve her passing.
She was revered and adored all around the world. Throughout her life and as her lasting legacy, her unfailing elegance and dignity remained true.
We should all remember the words she used to describe life after losing her husband, Prince Philip: “Life, of all, comprises of last partings as well as first meets.”
Then he said, “Granny, although this last separation makes us very sad, I will always be thankful for all of our first encounters—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to first meeting you as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first time you embraced my wonderful wife and my great-grandchildren.
I treasure the times we have spent together as well as all the other memorable events that have occurred. Not only by us, but by everyone throughout the whole planet, you are already dearly missed.
We now honour my father in his new capacity as King Charles III, and we thank you for your dedication to duty. I appreciate your wise counsel.
“I appreciate your contagious grin. Knowing that you and Grandpa are back together and both at peace makes us all smile as well.
Additionally, Ms. McAndrew said that Charles III ‘wanted to see the lads together because of course it was overshadowing the beginning of his reign’ and that the meeting was’very much the King’s wish’.
But according to a story in the Daily Mail today, the walkabout was not ordered by Charles. A royal insider denied these claims, stating they were “absolutely not the case.”
The claim that William only took action after knowing that Harry had gone on his own walkabout among the throng with a TV team is also alleged to be untrue; one source called this claim “total b******s.”
They are just a very short walk apart from one another (in Windsor), according to Ms. McAndrew. People often remarked on how terrible it was that they could be so near physically yet so far apart emotionally.
Of course, one swallow does not constitute a whole summer. We are aware that there will likely be lingering unpleasant feelings after this.
“Everyone is waiting for the book that Harry will release sometime this year, probably between the fall and the winter. But as of right now, it seems like a reconciliation.
Harry and Meghan joined William and Kate for the first time in more over two years since Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020, as the couple’s first engagement under their new titles.
Before a walkabout at the location on Saturday, they looked at the flowers and balloons.
According to a royal insider, the Prince of Wales invited his brother and wife to watch the tributes with them.
The Prince of Wales asked the Duke and Duchess to join him and the Princess of Wales early, according to the source.
In a moving tribute today, Harry praised his late grandmother, the Queen, for her “wise counsel” and “infectious grin.”
Her dedication to duty and devotion earned her the nickname “guiding compass” from the Duke of Sussex.
The Duke also said that he wished to honour his father at the beginning of his reign as King in a statement that was made today but held back a day in observance of the September 11th anniversary.
Harry said: “We are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her devotion to service and duty in honouring the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, and in grieving her death.
She was revered and adored all around the world. Throughout her life and as her lasting legacy, her unfailing elegance and dignity remained true.
We should all remember the words she used to describe life after losing her husband, Prince Philip: “Life, of all, comprises of last partings as well as first meets.”
Then he said, “Granny, although this last separation makes us very sad, I will always be thankful for all of our first encounters—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to first meeting you as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first time you embraced my wonderful wife and my great-grandchildren.
I treasure the times we have spent together as well as all the other memorable events that have occurred. Not only by us, but by everyone throughout the whole planet, you are already dearly missed.
We now honour my father in his new capacity as King Charles III, and we thank you for your dedication to duty. I appreciate your wise counsel.
“I appreciate your contagious grin. Knowing that you and grandpa are back together and both at peace makes us all smile as well.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are continuing to establish their life in America, and the King expressed his affection for them last Friday.
In a speech to the country, Charles spoke of his affection for his wife Meghan and son Harry as well as his “feelings of great sadness” over the passing of the Queen.
I want to also convey my affection for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their life abroad, he remarked after referring to his oldest son William and his wife Kate in their new titles as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The duke and duchess retired as senior working royals in 2020, and they now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
When word of the Queen’s deteriorating health first surfaced, the pair was travelling around Europe for a number of events.
In order to join other royals who had gathered at Balmoral Castle on Thursday evening, Harry postponed his appearance at a charity awards event in London. Meghan stayed in the city.
At Aberdeen International Airport, the Duke then stepped on board a British Airways aircraft while wearing a black suit.
He was spotted conversing to a lady wearing a hi-vis vest as he made his way towards the plane’s stairs. At one point, he put his hand on her shoulder.
He is said to have returned to Windsor’s Frogmore Cottage after his aircraft touched down at Heathrow Airport just after 11.30 a.m.
The Sussexes, who were about to wrap up a short tour of Europe when the Queen passed away, are anticipated to remain in the UK in order to attend the Queen’s state burial, which is anticipated to take place on September 19.
The Megxit scandal, the conflict between Harry and his brother, the charges of racism against an unidentified royal, and the claims that the institution neglected to assist a suicidal Meghan have all strained the couple’s relationships with their family.
The Sussexes’ shocking interview with Oprah Winfrey prompted a response from the Queen, who noted that “some memories may differ,” added that the Sussexes “will always be much-loved family members,” and said that the family will “handle the matters highlighted confidentially.”
The Sussex family has worked hard to publicly honour the Queen throughout, including naming their daughter Lilibet after her—a nickname the monarch has had since infancy.