The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reunited with the royal family for the Queen’s last rites. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined the royal family on Tuesday (September 13) to receive late Queen Elizabeth’s coffin at Buckingham Palace. Before this, Harry and Meghan appeared with the Prince and Princess of Wales to pay their respect to the Queen outside Windsor Castle, marking their first public appearance together since 2020 amid their turbulent relations.
London Mourns The Death Of The Queen…
Queen Elizabeth (96), the longest reigning monarch in history, took her last breath on September 9 at Balmoral. The D-Day marked the inception of Operation London Bridge, which initiated a 10-day mourning period until the funeral of the queen. As the day of the last rites, come closer, her coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace, London on Tuesday (Sept. 13).
As the queen’s body arrived from Scotland, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also present alongside Prince William, Kate Middleton, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. As the queen’s coffin was taken to the palace, a massive crowd emerged outside the palace ground to mourn the loss of their beloved queen.
As for the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan previously appeared alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales to pay their tribute to the queen outside Windsor Castle, marking their first appearance with them since 2020. In times of grief, it was a relief to see the family reunited, keeping aside their differences.
The official announcement of Queen Elizabeth’s death was made by King Charles III. However, Prince Harry released a heartfelt statement on Tuesday (Sept. 13) stating:
“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren. I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over.”
Who’s On The Procession List?
As planned per ‘The London Bridge’, the queen’s coffin will be taken by a gun carriage in a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster, and her body will rest in Westminster Hall. It has been reported that the members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin during the said procession.
During the procession, the queen consort Camilla, Meghan Markle, Princess Kate and Sophie (Countess Of Wessex) will be present in the car. As per the list of those who’d walk behind the coffin, the names include:
- The queen’s children: King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prine Anne, and the queen’s beloved son Prince Edward
- The queen’s grandsons: Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips
- Sir Timothy Laurence (princess Anne’s husband) and David Armstrong-Jones (queen’s nephew)
- The queen’s cousins: Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester
Love Remains Amid Turbulent Relationships…
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have kept themselves away from the royal family for quite some time. While some feel that the reason remains restricted to Kate and Markle’s bitter relations, it’s actually Harry and Williams who don’t get along well. The reasons are simple, Harry feels that his wife is not welcomed in the royal family.
Last month, Prince Harry came under fire after a former stripper claimed to auction his 10-year-old underwear from a naked Las Vegas Party. While scandals and rivalry are something that can never leave the British royal family, the queen’s death has certainly brought them together, only if for the time being.
Harry immediately rushed to the Queen after it was announced that her health is declining but Meghan decided to start in London. A royal source reported that she feared that she wouldn’t be welcomed by anyone. But this time, it was Prince William who extended an invitation to Harry and Meghan. A royal source revealed that the two brothers have put aside their difference for the Queen.
Funeral Details Confirmed…
As the royal family reunites to bid goodbye to the queen, Buckingham Palace has confirmed the date and timings of the funeral. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on September 19 at 11a.m BST/3 a.m. PT/6a.m ET. You can watch the queen’s last rites live on CNN, ABC, Fox News etc.
The last rites will be attended by the royal family and heads of the states from across the world. King Charles III will be coronated several months after the queen’s burial. In this manner, his oldest son Prince William is set to become the new hire to the throne and will be called the “Duke of Cornwall”.
As Queen Elizabeth gets buried on Monday (September 19), the nation will witness a two-minute silence. King Charles III declared a national holiday on the day of the Queen’s funeral. As per her wish, Elizabeth will be buried next to her parents and late husband Philip. The queen may have gone, but she has left behind a rich legacy for generations to come.
