Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Make Secret Visit to the U.K. to See the Queen Ahead of Her 96th Birthday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a secret visit to England, visiting Windsor Castle, where they met the queen.

People do not think they are being accompanied by their children, Archie and Lilibet. Lilibet had not previously met the queen and there was considerable pressure on the couple to bring her to the UK to meet.

A spokesman for the couple confirmed to The Daily Beast that they had indeed visited the queen, but said nothing about meeting Charles as some British media reported on Thursday.

The reunion, which the spokesman said was being worked on while the couple were en route to a three-day celebrity event in the Netherlands to support Game InvictusThe Paralympic-style event for those serving the injured that Harry helped found in 2014, will do much to spark hope that Harry and Meghan will make an appearance at the season celebrations. This summer, will reach their peak in the first week of June.

The meeting marked the couple’s first time seeing the queen in person since the awkward meeting at Commonwealth Day Service 2020, a little over two years ago. It was the last time before that Meghan set foot on British soil, although Harry has returned home to attend his grandfather’s funeral in 2021.

Relations between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Windsors have deteriorated significantly since they left the UK, reaching normalcy after they accused an unnamed member of the family of racism in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The couple’s presence in the UK has become public after they were spotted walking through the Windsor estate by a convoy of mass-carrying buses heading to the chapel inside the castle for a traditional service before Maundy Easter Thursday, which honors the elderly.

One said to Sun: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw who it was. We waved and they waved back. They looked very happy, relaxed and waved to everyone on the bus. Charles and the Queen were at Windsor Castle at the same time, so they must have met both of them.”

Speculation that they met Prince Charles and Camilla was spurred by the presence of the future king and queen at Windsor, where they were serving the queen after she left, apparently for reasons health.

It is unknown if they plan to meet William and Kate, and Harry’s office did not respond to that question.

The Daily mail reports that they are believed to be staying at Frogmore Cottage, a home renovated for them and gifted to them when they were first married, not far from Windsor Castle.

However the Sun speak that their security concerns were alleviated after Charles offered them use of his home and security details.

As The Daily Beast recently reported, Harry and the queen remain in touch with regular video calls however, it is thought he has not seen his grandmother in person since Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.

The surprise appearance came before Harry and Meghan returned to the limelight with a three-day engagement in the Netherlands, where they were cheering on athletes during the Invictus Games.

A tale of reconciliation is likely to benefit both sides, with the Windsors and Sussexes able to demonstrate that they are serious about trying to rebuild or patch broken bridges.

For Harry and Meghan, the surprise visit will allow them to keep focus on their service work as they prepare to take on the lead role at this weekend’s Invictus Games in the Netherlands.

On the other hand, the event may have been overshadowed by negative comments about the couple’s inability to visit the queen, who will be celebrating her 96th birthday next Thursday, when they are just two miles away. several hundred miles apart.

Harry helped found the games, a Paralympic-style event for those who have been injured, in 2014, and has been their top campaigner and fundraiser ever since. He is officially the main patron of the game.

In 2016, he convinced his grandmother to appear in a promotional film for the biennial games with the Obamas.

The 2020 games have been canceled due to Covid, meaning this year’s event is the first to repeat the signature achievement of Harry’s previous royal life with him in a new non-royal role .

While the story of the expected reconciliation is certainly welcome, there is still the possibility that the royal family is significantly unhappy about Harry’s deeply unacclaimed memoir, to be published later this year. this year.

Although the palace has taken care, officially, to maintain a deep understanding of the book, the book is expected to tell the inside story of his parents’ marriage breakdown, but There is little doubt that Harry’s decision to write an all-inclusive book has significantly damaged his credibility with his family of origin.

To complicate the picture, Harry also initiate legal action against the British state, arguing that the government’s removal of his automatic right to police protection while he was on British soil made it unsafe for him or his family to visit the country.

There is a perception among royals that at least part of the reason Harry has been hesitant to schedule a visit to the UK until now is that he is afraid he will undermine his argument if he suddenly announces that he actually going to the UK.

The Sussex team’s unwillingness to give in on this point is believed to be the reason behind Harry’s unexplained appearance at his grandfather’s memorial service last month.

However, the fact that security issues have apparently been rectified to the point where Harry and Meghan can feel comfortable calling Windsor will help boost hopes they will show up for the Jubilee celebrations. summer.

Some of the complications of the next few days remain: for example, there are rumors that the couple have been looked down upon by the Dutch royal family, who have not allowed them to debut separately nor stay at the royal palace in The Hague. , with the couple instead renting rooms in a luxury hotel.

However, the pair are said to be arriving with the Dutch royals for the game’s opening ceremony, according to a report in Page six.

Page six added a quote from a source stating that the pair “needed a win” during their trip to the Netherlands.

A win, for sure, would be good.

And scheduling an early birthday meeting for the esteemed occupant of Windsor Castle is a smart move when it comes to promoting Team Sussex’s benevolent brand.