Prince Harry returned to Windsor today to honour the memory of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the third anniversary of her passing.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, reportedly visited St George’s Chapel—where the late monarch is laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel—shortly after arriving at Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning (September 8).
According to The Sun, a black Range Rover believed to be carrying the prince was seen leaving the Windsor Suite at Heathrow shortly after his transatlantic flight from Los Angeles touched down. Photographs showed Harry at LAX beforehand, dressed casually in a black polo shirt, jeans and sunglasses, carrying a Mulberry duffle bag.
Unlike other members of the royal family, who marked the anniversary with public engagements, Harry chose a strictly private commemoration, laying a wreath at his grandmother’s resting place in Windsor.
Family divided in remembrance
The day carried poignant symbolism across the royal household. The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a Women’s Institute event in Sunningdale, Berkshire, dedicated to honouring the queen’s memory.
However, there remains no indication that Harry will reunite with his father, King Charles, during his brief stay in the UK. Royal commentator Charles Rae told The Sun:
“Harry is flying 5,500 miles to London and the king is still 500 miles away in Scotland. It is unlikely you would expect the king would fly down again to have a cup of tea with Harry. I can’t see how you could possibly have a reconciliation without the whole family being involved.”
Packed itinerary for Harry’s UK trip
Harry’s schedule centres on his charity work. He is expected to attend the WellChild Awards in London on Monday evening, where he will reportedly announce a personal donation to Children in Need.
The following day (September 9), he will travel to Nottingham, the city where he and Meghan Markle made their first official joint appearance as a couple in 2017. There, he will attend a charity event at the Community Recording Studio, hold a private briefing with Children in Need, the Police and Crime Commission, CRS, and Epic Partners, and meet with local young people he has met in the past.
Speculation also surrounds whether the Duke might extend his visit to attend the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, who passed away aged 92 on September 4. Her service will take place on September 16.
Meghan remains in California
While Harry embarks on his solo trip, Meghan has stayed in California with their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Harry has made several brief returns to Britain over the past year, including court hearings over his security arrangements and, more recently, the funeral of his uncle Lord Fellowes.
A friend of the duke told The Sunday Times: “He’s not given up hope on bringing his family back to the UK.”
For now, though, any reconciliation appears distant. Harry’s quiet moment at his grandmother’s grave stands as a private reminder of both his bond with the late queen and the continuing distance within the royal family.