Prince Philip funeral: Prince Harry met the Queen privately ‘at least twice’, sources claim

Meghan Markle’s friend Omid Scobie today claimed Prince Harry met the Queen privately ‘at least twice’ and spoke to his father Prince Charles and brother Prince William after the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last weekend. 

Mr Scobie, who co-wrote the explosive Finding Freedom biography about the duke and duchess’ decision to step away from royal life and strike out on their own in California, reported Harry met with Her Majesty after he flew to Britain to attend Prince Philip’s funeral. 

The Duke of Sussex was photographed returning home to Montecito from London yesterday to reunite with his pregnant wife Meghan, missing his grandmother’s 95th birthday today.

However, Mr Scobie has claimed that Harry had in fact been able to speak with Her Majesty ‘at least twice’ during his time back in the UK – which would be the first time the duke had spoken to his grandmother in person since his and Meghan’s bombshell Oprah interview last month.

The journalist wrote in Bazaar.com: ‘The love and respect he has for his grandmother will always be unwavering. This trip was to honour the life of his grandfather and support his grandmother and relatives.

‘It was very much a family-focused period of time. Saturday broke the ice for future conversations but outstanding issues have not been addressed at any great length. The family simply put their issues to one side to focus on what mattered.’ 

Mr Scobie also confirmed today that Harry stayed at Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle while he was in the country and saw a number of family members including Princess Eugenie and her newborn son. 

He also had the first face-to-face conversations with his father Charles and brother William since he and Meghan officially stepped down as senior royals last year.

Mr Scobie claims while no plans have been officially confirmed, the duke is expected to come back to the UK in July for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother, Princess Diana. He is thought to be planning to join the Duke of Cambridge for a ceremony at Kensington Palace.  

It comes as the duke was photographed arriving at home. He is understood to have flown into Los Angeles on an American Airlines flight from London Heathrow shortly after 1.30pm local time yesterday. 

His chauffeur-driven MPV was seen leaving the private terminal at LAX, reserved for celebrities and the super-rich, and was spotted again arriving at the Sussexes’ Montecito mansion at around 4pm.  

In Windsor, the Queen was today seen driving through the estate on her way to take her dogs for a walk as she marked her 95th birthday without her ‘strength and stay’ of 73 years.  

The monarch was pictured leaving Windsor Castle in a green Jaguar Estate after hosting a visit from family members during the ‘low-key’ celebrations.

Earlier today, in her first comments since Philip’s death, the monarch thanked well-wishers across the globe for the tributes paid to her husband which have ‘deeply touched’ the royal family.

The Queen said she and her family were in a ‘period of great sadness’ but were comforted by words of praise for Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor aged 99.

Her Majesty said in a statement: ‘I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate. 

‘While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.

‘My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days.

‘We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.’

Earlier today, Buckingham Palace shared a photo of the steadfast monarch at a royal engagement with a message wishing her happy birthday. Instead of sharing their own posts, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Instagram accounts re-posted the radiant photo of Her Majesty.

Celebrations will be a subdued this year with no traditional gun salutes while the Queen observes a two-week mourning period following the death of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99.

The Queen is expected to be visited by family today but grandson Prince Harry will not be among them. He returned home to California from London yesterday, just 24 hours before his grandmother’s birthday and two days after his grandfather’s funeral.  

Family members living closest to the Queen, who may be able to see her, including Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. There will be no traditional gun salutes or birthday photo due to the monarch remaining in mourning.  

After Saturday’s emotional funeral William and Harry took ‘baby steps’ towards healing their relationship after they walked back to Windsor Castle from St George’s Chapel together after being pushed together by peacemaker Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Later there was a face-to-face meeting within the grounds of the castle between the brothers and their father Prince Charles, but, in an unprecedented development that lays bare the depth of their rift, Charles and William preferred to meet with Harry together so that nobody’s words could be misconstrued afterwards, MailOnline’s Dan Wootton revealed yesterday.  

Harry had been widely reported to have been planning to stay for the Queen’s birthday, although sources said he was ‘conflicted’ about the decision and wanted to get home to Meghan.

He had flown into the UK on an American Airlines flight just over a week ago and spent most of his British trip in quarantine at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Father-of-one Harry will now begin a second 10-day quarantine – a requirement for international travelers journeying to the US, although it is not mandatory unlike in the UK.

CDC guidelines recommend travelers get a Covid-19 test prior to departure and self-isolate for 10 days after they return.

California also has its own travel advisory, with visitors and residents required to fill in a form that includes their contact details on arrival at LAX. 

The LA guidelines also say travelers should quarantine, although that advice includes exemptions for those traveling for work or for urgent family matters.

Harry’s brief visit to the UK for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was his first trip back to Britain in a year.

Pregnant Meghan, who is expecting a baby girl in the summer, was told not to travel with him but did send a handwritten note and a wreath.

The trip also marked the first time he has seen his family since making explosive allegations about royal racism during an interview with Oprah last month and claiming his father and brother are ‘trapped in the system’.

Sources told the Mail on Sunday Harry received a frosty reception when he appeared at Philip’s funeral on Saturday and was largely ignored by senior royals, among them Princess Anne and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

His presence also caused problems for courtiers – although the Duke of Edinburgh had wanted military uniform to be worn for his funeral, Harry is not entitled to wear it having given up his military roles as part of the Megxit deal.

Instead, the Queen decided to spare Harry’s blushes by having the royal party wear morning suits to the funeral.

He reportedly texted with his father and brother beforehand but didn’t see them in person until shortly before the service began.

Although William and Harry’s interactions initially looked frosty, they were pictured chatting together after the service as they made their way back to the castle.

Prince Charles and his two sons are then reported to have spent three hours ‘clearing the air’ immediately after the funeral.

But Page Six and The Telegraph both reported that Harry and Charles did not have a one-on-one due to fears of a misunderstanding.

The pair were said to be unlikely to meet again before the Duke of Sussex headed back to the US, reported The Times.

Sources told the outlets that both Charles and William wanted each other present for any meeting for fear that a ‘twisted version of events’ would leak out from Harry’s camp.

Harry is due to return to the UK again at the end of July for the unveiling of a memorial to his mother Princess Diana. 

The Queen today said she was ‘deeply touched’ by the ‘support and kindness’ shown by the public following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh as she marked her 95th birthday without her beloved husband of 73 years.  

In her first comments since Prince Philip’s death, the monarch thanked well-wishers across the globe for the tributes paid to her husband which have ‘deeply touched’ the royal family.

The Queen said she and her family were in a ‘period of great sadness’ but were comforted by words of praise for Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor aged 99.

Her Majesty said: ‘I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate.

‘While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.

‘My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days.

‘We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.’ 

Grieving Queen turns 95 alone just days after husband Philip’s funeral – with Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex among the ‘rota’ of royals set to pay her a morale-boosting visit

Charlotte Mitchell for MailOnline and Rebecca English for MailOnline 

The Queen turns 95 today – just days after the funeral of her beloved husband Prince Philip –  as she spends her first birthday without him in more than seven decades. 

The world’s oldest reigning monarch will mark the day in a ‘low key’ fashion at Windsor Castle, according to sources, hosting a visit from close family members and walking her dogs. 

Celebrations will be a subdued affair this year with no traditional gun salutes and no traditional birthday picture, as the Queen remains in mourning for her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh, who she has called her ‘strength and stay’.  

Cruel coronavirus restrictions meant the farewell was a royal funeral like no other – with the monarch sitting isolated and alone at the service in images that shocked the nation. 

And today is set to bring more sadness as the Queen prepares to celebrate her first birthday during her reign without her husband – and Britain’s longest serving consort – by her side.

The Trooping of the Colour in June – which celebrates the monarch’s ‘official’ birthday – is no longer going ahead due to the Covid pandemic.

Instead, courtiers are considering an ‘alternative parade’ in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle, similar to an event dubbed ‘mini Trooping’ that was held last summer. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today lead tributes to the Queen, saying: ‘I would like to send my warm wishes to Her Majesty The Queen on her 95th birthday. 

‘I have always had the highest admiration for Her Majesty and her service to this country and the Commonwealth. I am proud to serve as her Prime Minister.’

The Royal Family said in a statement: ‘Today is The Queen’s 95th birthday. HM was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York. 

‘This year The Queen remains at Windsor Castle during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh.’

In a bid to keep Her Majesty company, the family have agreed a rota to visit the Queen over the coming days to ensure that she is not left alone. 

Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are reported to be among the Queen’s first visitors.  

It comes as the royals mark two weeks of mourning following Philip’s death on April 9 at the age of 99. 

Because of the mourning period, there will be no gun salutes to celebrate the Queen’s birthday – marking the second year in a row without the tradition.

The Queen last year decided the celebratory display of military firepower would not be ‘appropriate’ as the UK was in lockdown with thousands dead from the coronavirus outbreak. 

Usually a 21-gun salute is fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from either Hyde Park or Green Park, followed by a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. 

On this day last year, the Royal Family marked the celebration by releasing poignant private home videos of the Queen playing with her younger sister Margaret. 

The touching archive films from the Royal Collection Trust revealed candid memories of the two sisters growing up. 

They provide a rare insight into family life for the Queen as a young Princess Elizabeth.

The clips showed Elizabeth playing with a pram as a toddler, on a seesaw and playing in a garden and dancing on a yacht with Margaret. 

The Queen has said she was ‘coping’ after the funeral of her husband on Saturday and was spotted a day later driving out of Windsor Castle in a green Jaguar. 

Reports have suggested that family members have agreed a rota to visit the Queen over the coming days to make sure the Queen has company on the day – with Princess Anne and Sophie Wessex among the first.

Both women form part of a group of loyal, discreet and ‘utterly trustworthy’ women of the Queen’s inner circle who are offering crucial support as she faces life without her beloved Philip.

Also in this core group of confidantes are the Queen’s childhood friend Lady Pamela Hicks and Royal dresser Angela Kelly.

‘Sophie is like another daughter to the Queen, they are that close,’ said a Royal source. 

‘She is trusted and relied on like few others.’  

The pair are said to speak at least once a day and enjoy regular Saturday ‘movie afternoons’ when they watch old films together.

Today marks the Queen’s actual birthday. Her official birthday is celebrated on the second Saturday in June with the Trooping the Colour parade.

The June tradition was started by King George II in 1748, who felt it would be too cold to have the outdoor ceremony on his actual birthday in November.

She will also be visited by her son Andrew and granddaughter Eugenie in the coming days, the Mirror reported. 

Camilla is also expected to visit the Queen this week. 

‘The Queen will not be alone. She will have others who care about her deeply and want to be there to support her in her most pressing hour,’ a source told The Mirror

‘In typical fashion the Queen has insisted she is coping and despite the suggestion she had prepared herself for this day to come, everyone is well aware there is nothing like the experience when it comes.’

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2.40am on April 21 1926. 

She was the first child of the then-Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was born by caesarean section at 17 Bruton Street, the Mayfair home of her mother’s parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.

She was never expected to be a monarch when she was born, but the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII in 1936 put her father on the throne, and changed her destiny.

She wed Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947, and became Queen at the age of 25 when George VI died from lung cancer in 1952.

Elizabeth II, who has been monarch for more than 68 years, is Head of State, the Armed Forces and the Commonwealth.

She will celebrate her platinum jubilee of 70 years on the throne in 2022.