Inside Meghan And Harry's Secret Visit With Queen Elizabeth
On their way to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stopped in England to visit Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle on April 14, 2022, according to a representative who spoke to the BBC on behalf of the couple.
Harper's Bazaar reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be traveling for the sports event, which was started by Harry and will take place between April 16 and 22.
This is the couple's first trip back to Europe together since they stepped away from their royal duties in 2020. While Harry attended Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, it is believed that Meghan has not seen the queen since Commonwealth Day 2020, per the Daily Mail. And neither was present at the March 2022 memorial service for Prince Philip due to concerns over safety.
Harry and Meghan reportedly met with the queen as well as Prince Charles
In addition to meeting with the queen during their secret visit, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also reportedly spent time with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, per the Daily Mail.
Tensions have been high between the royal family and Harry and Meghan, considering their move to the United States, interview with Oprah Winfrey, and legal case over personal protection.
However, royal expert Phil Dampier told The Sun that he believes the visit is a good sign.
"I think Harry has realized that it looked very bad that he didn't come to Prince Philip's memorial service and perhaps he's having second thoughts about how he's been playing things," he said. "He's obviously decided he wanted to see his grandmother, and I'm sure she was pleased to see him."
Dampier noted that the visit should be beneficial for the relationship between Harry and his father, too. "Most of all, I'm sure Charles was happy, as I'm sure he would like to repair their relationship. This seems to have been the first tentative step in repairing their relationship."
Some are skeptical of the reasoning behind the couple's visit
While some believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's visit was a good thing, others wonder if it was all for the wrong reasons.
Part of Harry and Meghan's Netflix deal includes filming the Invictus Games for a docu-series, "Heart of Invictus," and royal expert Tom Bower thinks that's the real reason the couple stopped by Windsor.
"I have no doubt it was all done for their Netflix documentary," he told the Daily Mail. "The queen's advisers failed to protect her from being exploited by the royal family's worst traducers, while the Sussexes exploited an old, unwell woman to boost their credibility and coffers."
However, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, thinks that, by stopping in, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were looking to make peace. "It is a wonderful opportunity to clear the air and offer an olive branch," she told The Sun. "After everything that has gone on, it must have taken a lot for Harry and Meghan to go to Windsor."
An expert thinks Harry and Meghan were welcomed with 'open arms'
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, also told The Sun that the timing of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's visit may be helpful, as it was on Maundy Thursday. Some believe that the Thursday before Easter is the time when Jesus had his last Passover with his disciples.
"Maundy Thursday is a very special day for the queen, as it is about forgiveness," Seward said. "She is not one to hold grudges, and I think she would have happily welcomed them with open arms."
Due to recent health problems, Queen Elizabeth did not go to Thursday's Maundy Service at St. George's Chapel, per Reuters. However, those who did attend got a special surprise, as they saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex heading into Windsor Castle.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw who it was," one person told The Sun. "We knew we might see Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the ceremony but never believed we would bump into Harry and Meghan."
Despite rumors, the relationship between the queen and the Sussexes is strong
The fact that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited with Queen Elizabeth is a big deal, especially considering the events of the past couple years.
While on "Good Morning America," royal expert Omid Scobie spoke about how things stand between the Sussexes and the queen. "When it comes to that relationship with the queen, it is as strong as ever. They have nothing but love for her."
He added that naming their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor proved this even further. "Of course, we saw them name their daughter after the queen's very nickname, so that really gives us an insight into that close relationship."
People reported that Queen Elizabeth met Lilibet through a video call, and, last year, before the death of Prince Philip, Harry spoke with James Corden on his show about the family Zooming with his grandparents.