‘Thank you for your sound advice’: Prince Harry pays tribute to Queen
Prince Harry has paid tribute to his grandmother, thanking the late Queen for her “unwavering grace and dignity” and commitment to service.
In a statement published on the Archewell website, the Duke of Sussex recalled his earliest memories with “Granny” as well as “the moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren”.
The Duke of Sussex has released a statement following the Queen’s death.Credit:Getty Images
“Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile,” read the statement.
Prince Harry’s words of gratitude hint at the role Queen Elizabeth II played as a trusted confidante throughout his life.
Following Princess Diana’s death in 1997, the monarch’s relationship with both Harry and William grew closer as the princes’ leant on their grandmother for support.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex named their daughter after the late Queen, choosing Lilibet, the nickname given to the monarch when she was a toddler.
The statement follows Prince Harry and wife Meghan’s walkabout at Windsor Castle alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales to meet cheering crowds and view flowers left outside.
The show of unity saw the brothers put months of tension behind them to honour their grandmother’s memory. It was the first time they had been seen in public together in two years.
Prince Harry said his grandmother was globally admired and respected. “[A]nd in mourning her loss—we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty.”
“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,” read the statement.
Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speak with well-wishers at Windsor Castle.Credit:Chris Jackson Collection
The Duke added: “And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.”
The words of support for his father reflect the olive branch heard in King Charles III’s first address as King when he said: “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan [Markle] as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
Prince Harry’s fractured relationship with his father resurfaced last month following Meghan’s interview with New York-based The Cut magazine in which she appeared to suggest that her husband felt as though his relationship with his father had been “lost”.
The Duchess of Sussex told the publication: “Harry said to me, ‘I lost my dad in this process’. It doesn’t have to be the same for them as it was for me, but that’s his decision.”
But Omid Scobie, royal reporter and the Sussexes’ biographer, claimed Meghan’s words had been misinterpreted, tweeting: “I understand that Prince Harry is referring to Meghan’s loss of her own father, and Meghan is saying she doesn’t want Harry to lose his.”
Following the Queen’s death, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, automatically became Prince and Princess because their grandfather, King Charles III, has become King.
Rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean that the Archie and Lilibet, as the children of a son of a sovereign, may use an HRH title should they wish. But this is yet to be reflected on the royal website because it has not been confirmed by their parents or Buckingham Palace whether they will use the titles.
The Duke’s statement concluded: “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
Prince Harry’s tribute mirrors that of his brother William’s when he issued an emotional statement on Saturday: “She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.
“I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”
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