Prince Harry speaks for first time about secret meeting with Queen

19 April 2022, 08:29

Harry and Meghan paid a visit to the Queen last week
Harry and Meghan paid a visit to the Queen last week. Picture: Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Prince Harry has spoken for the first time about meeting the Queen with his wife Meghan last week.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex secretly visited the monarch in Windsor on Thursday and also met Prince Charles before travelling to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.

It is the first time in two years the couple have been seen together publicly on this side of the Atlantic.

READ MORE: Meghan says she 'could not love and respect' Harry more during Invictus Games ceremony

READ MORE: Harry 'won't rest' until world is 'fairer, safer and more equal' for Archie and Lilibet

When asked about the Queen, Harry told the BBC: "She had plenty of messages for Team UK which I've already passed on to most of them so it was great to see her. I'm sure she'd love to be here if she could."

The surprise face-to-face meeting has been viewed as an "olive branch" by royal commentators after a turbulent two years following the couple's decision to step down as senior royals in 2020.

The pair were absent from the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service in London last month.

Harry flew back from California without Meghan, who was heavily pregnant at the time, to attend his grandfather's funeral in Windsor in April 2021.

Caller broke down in tears over the media treatment of Harry & Meghan

His most recent return to the UK was to unveil the statue of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, on July 1, 2021 with the Duke of Cambridge.

The duke and duchess moved to the US for a new life of personal and financial freedom.

But they later threw the monarchy into crisis by accusing an unnamed royal of racism against their son Archie before he was born and the institution of failing to help Meghan when she was suicidal during a controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The couple's unannounced return to the UK came amid concerns over the Queen's health.

The monarch recovered from Covid in February and has experienced recent mobility issues.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

SantaCon NYC

Thousands of revellers descend on NYC for annual Santa-themed bar crawl SantaCon

A heart-broken family has cremated the wrong body after a mix-up by the Grange University Hospital in South Wales

Wrong body cremated after shocking South Wales hospital mix-up, as board apologises to the family

Russia Ukraine War

Soviet-era statue of Red Army commander taken down in Kyiv

Stephen Fry has said he feels "self conscious" going out without his walking stick which he has been using since his recovery from a fall in September. Credit: Alamy

Stephen Fry admits feeling 'self-conscious' using cane after recovering from agonising fall off O2 stage

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Lianne Gordon. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Lianne, who was shot dead in Hackney, east London, the Metropolitan Police said. Issue date: Friday December 8, 2023.

Boy, 16, charged with murder of Lianne Gordon and two counts of attempted murder in Hackney shooting

Cop28 protests

Opec ‘panicking’ as Cop28 talks focus on possible fossil fuel phase-out

A bizarre fight broke out after a man tore down a Palestinian flag

Man rips down Palestinian flag in London before driver intervenes to stop him and ladder fight breaks out on street

Recep Tayyip Edrogan

Erdogan accuses West of ‘barbarism’ and Islamophobia over war in Gaza

Brits are facing Storms Elin and Fergus

Britain faces two storms as Elin and Fergus bring 70mph gusts and flooding with fresh yellow weather alerts issued

The Queen supported the idea of Harry keeping security after Megxit

Queen wanted Harry to keep security despite prince's claim he was 'forced' to leave UK after it was downgraded

Gatwick Airport has been hit by an ATC fault

Passengers delayed for hours after Gatwick Airport hit by air traffic control fault

Fire at hospital

Deadly fire breaks out at hospital near Rome

Brits are facing Storm Elin

Storm Elin: Brits face 55mph gusts and flooding as fresh yellow weather alerts issued for UK in bleak weekend

Met Police are investigating the violent robbery

Horrific CCTV shows two women unleash 'shocking and terrifying' assault on 20-year-old and rob her bag in North London

A mammoth £201m prize has been won in the EuroMillions

Lucky ticket holder scoops £201m in EuroMillions draw - was it you? Full draw details revealed

Gaza air strike

Israel presses on with Gaza bombardments as war enters third month