Prince Harry has recalled what Queen Elizabeth said about her children during what turned out to be their last meeting together. The Duke of Sussex, 41, reflected on the poignant memory in his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’, describing the meeting when his grandmother met her daughter, Princess Lilibet, for what is believed to be the first and only time.According to the memoir, Prince Harry wrote about dealing with his grandmother’s death and found himself unable to stop imagining his son and daughter with the late monarch. “Archie making deep, chivalrous bows, his little sister Lilibet hugging the monarch’s shins. The sweetest children, said the grandmother, sounding perplexed,” the Duke of Sussex recalled to ‘Spare’.Harry provided additional information about the Queen’s reaction to meeting her children. “She expected them to be a little more … American, I think? That means, in her mind, more agitated,” he wrote, suggesting that Queen Elizabeth had expected the children to display characteristics she associated with American behavior.
Details of the June 2022 royal meeting
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal roles in the UK in 2020 when Prince Archie was a baby. The family of four traveled back to Britain in June 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking a significant return to the country they had left two years earlier.
Prince Harry’s personal tribute after Queen Elizabeth’s death
In a personal statement released after Queen Elizabeth’s death, Prince Harry paid tribute to the monarch and referenced moments with his late grandmother that he said he would “cherish,” according to People.“Grandma, although this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all our first meetings, from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my beloved wife and held your beloved great-grandchildren,” Prince Harry said in his tribute.
King Charles meets his granddaughter for the first time
It was previously confirmed that King Charles also met his granddaughter Princess Lilibet for the first time during the visit in June 2022. A royal source described the meeting positively at the time. “It was a fantastic visit. The prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time,” said the source, who noted that it was “wonderful” to have Harry and Meghan back in Britain.The source explained the emotional meaning of the meeting for King Charles. “It was very special to spend time with him. I had not met Lilibet, his granddaughter, so meeting her for the first time was very emotional: it was a wonderful thing,” they added, underlining how significant the meeting was for the then Prince Charles.
Prince Harry’s expected return to the UK
Despite ongoing family disputes, Prince Harry will make a trip to the UK next week to mark 1 year until the Invictus Games take place in Birmingham in 2027, demonstrating his continued dedication to the sporting event.