Prince Philip dies: Harry may have to isolate away from pregnant Meghan for 14 days

Prince Harry may have to isolate away from his pregnant wife Meghan Markle for 14 days when he returns to the US after Prince Philip’s funeral.

The Duke of Sussex is staying at Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s former home in the grounds of Windsor Castle, to quarantine for five days before attending the royal service at St George’s Chapel on Saturday.  

Harry landed at London Heathrow Airport via a BA flight from LA yesterday, following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. It is the first time the duke has been in Britain since his bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan, who accused the royal family of racism in the explosive TV interview, is pregnant with Harry’s second child. She is remaining in the US with Archie after her physician advised her not to make the journey.

However, in the US pregnant women are considered at ‘increased risk for severe illness’ during the coronavirus pandemic. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should self-isolate at home for seven days, get a test and keep away from pregnant women for 14 days after returning to the US mainland from overseas if they have not been vaccinated. 

Though it is not clear if Harry has already received his vaccine, the duke may have to stay away from the duchess and one-year-old Archie for almost a month – depending on the length of his stay in Britain. 

The Duke of Sussex paid tribute to Philip just hours after landing in the UK and starting quarantine, calling the 99-year-old consort a ‘master of the barbercue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end’.

He used the Archewell charity he set up with Meghan in California to release his bold statement, which experts regard as a throwback to his cheeky prince persona – in stark contrast to William’s sombre Buckingham Palace tribute.

It has also emerged that Harry is unlikely to wear an Army uniform at his grandfather’s funeral in Windsor after being stripped of his military roles by the Queen when he and Meghan quit royal duties last year. 

Harry’s return to the UK ahead of Saturday’s funeral will be the first opportunity to reunite with the Duke of Cambridge and his father Prince Charles, who is said to be ‘looking forward’ to a reunion with his son.

The Duke of Sussex is entitled to attend his grandfather’s funeral due to a provision in the law that allows mourners to leave quarantine on ‘compassionate’ grounds.

It is understood Harry will be following all procedures to ensure he complies with Covid-19 regulations. As Philip’s funeral is due to take place on Saturday, Harry will not have time to complete the full 10-day quarantine period.

The rules, however, do allow a person to temporarily leave their place of quarantine on compassionate grounds, which includes funerals.

Harry will have had to return a negative coronavirus test result in the three days before he travelled, and will have completed a passenger locator form with details of where he will be spending his quarantine.

He will also have had to book a travel test package, which involves two tests, one to be taken on or before the second day of his quarantine, and the second on or after his eighth day of quarantine.

Harry could also participate in the ‘Test to Release’ scheme. Under the scheme, if he pays for a private test from an approved supplier five days into quarantine, he may be free to leave if the result is negative. Tests cost around £130.

If the dule was to break the Covid-19 quarantine rules, he would risk a penalty of up to £10,000, and if he fails to take the tests on day two and day eight, he could be fined a maximum of £2,000.

Harry is staying at Frogmore, a Grade II-listed property which has four bedrooms and a nursery, is set close to the winding lakes, wooded mounds, glades, walks and bridges of the gardens at Frogmore, and is close to the Queen’s residence.

The property underwent major work to turn five properties back into a single home which cost £2.4million of taxpayers’ money. The couple have since repaid the cost of the renovations with money from a lucrative deal made with Netflix, rumoured to have been worth more than £100million.

In November 2020 it was reported that Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank had moved into Frogmore Cottage.

Some commentators have suggested the funeral could allow Harry to spend some quality time with his brother to heal their rift. But as they are from different households, they will still have to maintain social distancing.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said previously that the royal family would be following coronavirus rules throughout the funeral.

Mourners are also advised to be respectful of those who are clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 and ‘avoid close contact at any point’, potentially limiting Harry’s time with his 94-year-old grandmother, the Queen.

Earlier today, Harry released a statement praising his grandfather, describing him as a ‘legend of banter,’ signing off ‘Per Marre, Per Tarrem’ the motto of the Royal Marines. The statement read: ‘My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. 

‘He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm – and also because you never knew what he might say next. He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the monarch, a decorated serviceman, a prince and a duke.

‘But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end.

‘He has been a rock for Her Majesty the Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ‘Oh do get on with it!’ So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. 

‘You will be sorely missed, but always remembered – by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts. Per Mare, Per Terram.’