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In memoriam.Prince Harry mirrored on great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II‘s “eternal legacy” in his first official assertion since her demise.
“In celebrating the lifetime of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen — and in mourning her loss — we’re all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her dedication to service and obligation. She was globally admired and revered. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true all through her life and now her eternal legacy,” the 37-year-old wrote on Monday, September 12. “Allow us to echo the phrases she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, phrases which may deliver consolation to all of us now: ‘Life, in fact, consists of ultimate partings in addition to first conferences.’”
Harry continued: “Granny, whereas this last parting brings us nice disappointment, I’m without end grateful for all of our first conferences — from my earliest childhood recollections with you, to assembly you for the primary time as my commander in chief, to the primary second you met my darling spouse and hugged your loved one great-grandchildren. I cherish these instances shared with you, and the various different particular moments in between. You might be already sorely missed, not simply by us, however by the world over. And because it involves first conferences, we now honor my father in his new function as King Charles III.”
The Archewell cofounder hailed his late grandmother’s “dedication to service,” concluding, “Thanks on your sound recommendation. Thanks on your infectious smile. We, too, smile understanding that you just and grandpa are reunited now, and each collectively in peace.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday, September 8, that the queen died at age 96 after being positioned beneath the supervision of her docs hours earlier. She was surrounded by family members at her Balmoral property in Scotland, with Harry touching down from London after her passing was already introduced. He and Meghan Markle later joined Prince William and Princess Kate on Saturday, September 10, for a walkabout round Windsor to greet mourners and pay their respects.
The Duke of Sussex beforehand checked in with his grandmother “nonstop” after she was briefly hospitalized in October 2021, a supply advised Us Weekly on the time. The duo maintained a detailed relationship after Harry and Meghan, 41, made their royal exit permanent in February 2021.
“I’ve spoken extra to my grandmother within the final yr than I’ve completed for a lot of, a few years,” the previous army pilot mentioned throughout a March 2021 CBS tell-all. “My grandmother and I’ve a very good relationship and understanding. And I’ve a deep respect for her. She’s my Colonel-in-chief, proper? She all the time will likely be.”
Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold famous in a February 2020 documentary that Harry reminded Elizabeth of her husband, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at age 99.
“[He has] that fantastic, let’s say, the form of glint in his eye,” Harrold defined on the time.
The monarch additionally had a candy bond with Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie, 3. To celebrate the toddler’s birthday in Could 2021, she despatched him “presents and a card” and referred to as him by way of Zoom, a supply solely advised Us Weekly. “Seeing her great-grandson’s face all the time brightens up her day!”
Being away from the infant was troublesome for Elizabeth after his mother and father moved to Canada in January 2020, then America two months later. “The queen has FaceTime calls with Archie, however it’s not the identical,” one other supply advised Us in February 2021. “[She is] desperate to give Archie a huge hug.”
Elizabeth reunited with Harry in April 2021 when he returned to England for Philip’s funeral. The pair reportedly had two private conversations throughout his go to.
Harry had a “very shut relationship” together with his late grandfather previous to his demise, a 3rd supply solely advised Us in April 2021. “While they might not have been in a position to talk throughout the last yr or so of his life, Philip thought extremely fondly of his grandson and vice versa. … Harry feels responsible for not being there to say goodbye to Prince Philip in individual.”
He wrote in a statement on the time: “My grandfather was a person of service, honor and nice humor. He was authentically himself, with a critically sharp wit, and will maintain the eye of any room attributable to his allure — and likewise since you by no means knew what he would possibly say subsequent. He will likely be remembered because the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a adorned serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. However to me, like a lot of you who’ve misplaced a liked one or grandparent over the ache of this previous yr, he was my grandpa: grasp of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky proper ‘til the top.”
When the Sussexes welcomed their daughter two months later, they named her in honor of the queen.
“Lili is called after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose household nickname is Lilibet,” a June 2021 assertion from the couple learn. “Her center identify, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”