PRINCE Harry has arrived back in the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral without Meghan Markle as he prepares to join his family in mourning.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, was advised not to travel due to her pregnancy – although Palace officials say she made “every effort” to be by her husband’s side.
Read our live blog for the very latest news on Prince Philip’s death…
She didn’t receive medical clearance from her physician, a senior palace official and Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed.
As a result, Harry jetted back from LA alone as he grieves his grandfather – and prepares to see his close family for the first time since he and Meghan quit the UK in March 2020.
It will also be the first time the family has met face-to-face since Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah aired in March this year.
However, royal experts believe that the funeral could offer Harry a chance to heal any rift the interview may have caused.
Author Penny Junor says she believes the family will “pull together” for the Queen’s sake – while royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has said a “show of unity” is vital for repairing relations.
It comes as:
- Philip’s funeral will be broadcast to the nation on TV next Saturday, with Charles leading a procession to the chapel at Windsor Castle
- The Duke of Edinburgh told son Charles he must ‘lead the family and look after the Queen’ in hospital heart-to-heart
- Boris Johnson will not attend the funeral to allow more space for the Royal Family
- Mourners flock to Buckingham Palace – but officials remove tributes in a bid to keep crowds under control
- The Queen was ‘by her husband’s side’ as he died – and Philip spent his final days enjoying the sunshine
It’s thought Harry boarded a plane as quickly as possible after his grandfather’s death.
He must self-isolate for five days when he arrives in the UK.
Under Government rules, those travelling to England must self-isolate for a full 10 days, but may leave quarantine if a test returns a negative result after five days.
And it’s understood Harry has recently been self isolating at his LA mansion so he could race back if his grandfather’s health deteriorated.
He is said to be “united in grief” with his family over the death of Philip – and he will reunite with his brother to walk behind the coffin.
It’s reported that he spoke to several members of his family following Prince Philip’s death on Friday, including Prince Charles.
He is also believed to have spoken to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie.
The Duke of Sussex was very close to his grandfather, and is understood to be deeply upset by his death on Friday morning.
Philip’s funeral will take place on Saturday, April 17 at Windsor Castle.
It will be televised, with a minute of silence at 3pm.
His body will lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel – where Harry and Meghan wed in 2018.
As the consort of the Queen, the dedicated royal is entitled to a state funeral.
However, the Duke of Edinburgh was firm that he didn’t want one.
Instead, mourners including Harry, William and Charles will follow his coffin – carried in a specially-adapted Land Rover – to the chapel.
The funeral service will begin as the coffin is brought in. Just 30 people will be allowed to attend under the Covid laws.
Meanwhile, the Queen has approved Boris Johnson’s recommendation that there be a period of national mourning, which began yesterday and will continue until April 17.
The Royal Family will observe two weeks of mourning – and union flags flying at half-mast at royal residences will remain at half-mast until the day after the funeral.
The service will mark a strange homecoming for Prince Harry after more than a year in LA.
During the Oprah interview, he and his wife said they are close to the Queen – despite reports of tension after Megxit.
And they said they had been in close contact with the monarch when Philip was admitted to hospital earlier this year.
Meghan said: “This morning, I woke up earlier than H, and saw a note from someone on our team in the UK saying that the Duke of Edinburgh had gone to the hospital.
“But I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check in.”
However, Harry admitted his relationship with his brother and father has suffered.
He said he feels let down by his family – and is barely speaking to his brother, describing their relationship now as “space”.
He claimed his father Charles stopped taking his calls after he and Meghan left the UK and was financially cut off by the Royal Family last year.
He also discussed his relationship with William, saying he loved him “to bits” but he and the future king were “on different paths”.
For his part, William is said to be “very upset” with the interview.
William’s pal said: “It’s still raw.
“He’s very upset by what’s happened, though absolutely intent that he and Harry’s relationship will heal in time.”
