Wednesday, September 14th, saw the removal of Queen Elizabeth II‘s coffin from Buckingham Palace and its transportation to Westminster Hall by a procession that included King Charles III, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
While the brothers walked side by side for the moving 38-minute procession from Buckingham Palace, the spouses traveled in separate vehicles, with Meghan accompanied by the Countess of Wessex and Kate joined by the Queen’s consort, Camilla.
Prince Harry Sheds Tears During His Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth’s Service
Once inside Westminster, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, the spouses of William and Harry, joined them for the reception of Her Majesty’s Casket. The Sussexes remained at the rear of the gathering of royals, with Harry standing directly behind William and Meghan behind Kate. Its an emotional moment as the couples are been seen together since their unexpected walkabout at Windsor Palace on Saturday, and an intriguing demonstration of harmony.
The queen’s coffin will remain in Westminster Abbey until her scheduled funeral, which is scheduled for September 19. The public have already begun to gather in line to pay their respects. The Duchesses and the Princes all wore similar fascinator hats and all-black outfits for the solemn occasion. Additionally, Meghan was spotted donning a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings that the late queen gave her for their first outing together in 2018.
Harry donned a black mourning suit with his military medals attached, while William, the new Prince of Wales, wore his uniform. Kate and Meghan were both spotted bowing in front of the coffin. And as Meghan and Harry left Westminster, they were holding hands. Harry was observed wiping away tears in a poignant gesture as he paid tribute to his late grandmother.
Since 2020, when Harry and Meghan decided to resign as senior royals and move their family to California, they have been distant from the royal family. But since the queen’s passing, Harry and Meghan have repeatedly been spotted reconciling with the royal family. Hearing about his grandmother’s failing health, Harry traveled by himself to Scotland’s Balmoral Castle.
Sadly, he did not arrive in time to visit her before she passed away. William then extended an invitation to Harry and Meghan to join him and Kate in welcoming mourners outside Windsor Castle. Prior to the event, William contacted Harry and “invited the Duke and Duchess to join him and the Princess of Wales,” ET previously revealed. According to a source, “the Prince of Wales thought it was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family.”
Additionally, Harry’s response to the news that he couldn’t wear his military uniform to any of the events commemorating the queen’s passing was described in a statement given to royal media by a representative of the Duke of Sussex.
The announcement said that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, would dress in a mourning suit for all of the events honoring his grandmother, and “His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears, and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
