Harry’s ‘secret’ tribute to late Queen amid centenary celebrations,
Prince Harry quietly sent a wreath to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s grave to mark what would have been her 100th birthday yesterday, it has been revealed.
The Duke of Sussex organised for flowers to be laid by her final resting place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, according to Sussex-approved People magazine.
The Queen was interred after her death in 2022 alongside her husband Prince Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which also houses the body of the Queen’s father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.
Harry stayed in California this week while King Charles and Queen Camilla led senior Royal Family members at a Buckingham Palace reception to honour her yesterday.
It comes after the Duke paid tribute to Philip last August in a personal letter left secretly at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
Harry asked a friend to discreetly leave the note and a wreath of red poppies for his late grandfather at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire, following the national commemorations attended by the King and Queen earlier the same day.
But one friend of the Royal Family told the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden at the time: ‘What hypocrisy. Harry hurt his grandfather deeply during the final year of his life.’
The letter was said to have been placed after Charles and Camilla left to avoid distracting from the service which honoured the sacrifice of Second World War heroes who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East.
Queen Elizabeth II with Harry after Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding at Windsor Castle in 2019
Queen Elizabeth II was interred alongside her husband Prince Philip in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, which also houses the remains of the Queen’s father George VI, her mother the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret
Prince Harry paid tribute to his late grandfather Prince Philip last August in a personal letter left secretly at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Harry asked a friend to place a letter and wreath on the Burma Star Memorial last August
In 2020, the year of Megxit, former soldier Harry was left saddened when he was refused his wish to have a poppy wreath placed at the Cenotaph, the focus of the UK’s Remembrance Sunday service, on his behalf.
Just months later, the Duke, who undertook two tours to Afghanistan, was stripped of his military patronages by Elizabeth II after his decision to step down as a senior working royal was made permanent.
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Since Elizabeth II’s death on September 8, 2022, Harry has returned to her burial site in Windsor on two occasions – including on the first anniversary in 2023.
The Duke also paid his respects last year, when he was in the UK for the WellChild awards and met his father Charles for the first time in more than a year.
At yesterday’s palace reception, the King was accompanied by all the working royals in honour of what would have been his late mother’s 100th birthday.
Joining the King and Queen were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and even the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra – aged 90 and 89 respectively.
The reception was a celebration of Elizabeth II’s life and legacy, as guests from 45 of the patronages she supported were also present for the occasion.
Meanwhile, Harry returned to Montecito last week after he and Meghan toured Australia during a four-day visit that drew large crowds of supporters – as well as fierce criticism.
The Sussexes were accused of using their royal links to cash in on Australia as they carried out a mix of charity and business engagements during their time Down Under.
(From left) The Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, the Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace yesterday
Prince William and Kate celebrate the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth yesterday
The Princess of Wales with guest Tony Gledhill during the Buckingham Palace event yesterday
The Princess of Wales hugs 88-year-old George Cross hero Tony Gledhill during the reception
In Sydney, Meghan was the headlining guest at a ‘women-only’ retreat that some fans shelled out as much as £1,700 to attend.
During a VIP meet-and-greet with these superfans, Meghan asked if it was finally time to invest in herself after spending ‘all her life investing in women’.
The Duchess also told the crowd her experience in the public eye had been ‘very difficult’ but that people’s criticism of her had to do with their own ‘projections’.
She said the last decade, during which she celebrated happy moments such as her wedding and the birth of her two children, had been tainted by the vicious attacks.
Critics suggested Harry and Meghan were using Australia ‘like an ATM’ and that the ‘quasi royal tour’ was an extensive exercise in ‘self promotion’.
Since returning to Los Angeles, Meghan has announced the launch of two new candles inspired by the couple’s children – with the Duchess of Sussex using their royal links to promote the ‘Mother’s Day Edit’.
The marketing materials for the two candles mention Archie and Lilibet’s royal titles, as Meghan unveiled Signature Candle No. 506, named after her son’s birthdate of May 6, and Signature Candle No. 604, an homage to Princess Lilibet’s June 4 birthday.
