Prince Harry has recalled what Queen Elizabeth said about his children during what turned out to be their final meeting together. The Duke of Sussex, 41, reflected on the poignant memory in his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’, describing the encounter when his grandmother met his daughter Princess Lilibet for what is believed to be the first and only time.According to the memoir, Prince Harry wrote about processing his grandmother’s passing and found himself unable to stop picturing his son and daughter with the late monarch. “Archie making deep, chivalrous bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch’s shins. Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused,” the Duke of Sussex recalled in ‘Spare’.Harry provided additional insight into the Queen’s reaction to meeting his children. “She’d expected them to be a bit more… American, I think? Meaning, in her mind, more rambunctious,” he wrote, suggesting that Queen Elizabeth had anticipated the children would display characteristics she associated with American behaviour.
Details of the June 2022 royal meeting
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles in the United Kingdom in 2020 when Prince Archie was a baby. The family of four travelled back to Britain in June 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking a significant return to the country they had departed two years earlier.
The Sussex family returned to Britain for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.Image credit (Instagram)
During the visit, Princess Lilibet was 1 year old when she met the Queen, who she was named after in honour of the monarch’s childhood nickname. Prince Archie was 3 years old at the time of the 2022 meeting. Archie is now 7, while Lilibet is 5.
Prince Harry’s personal tribute following the Queen Elizabeth’s passing
According to people, in a personal statement released following Queen Elizabeth’s passing, Prince Harry honoured the monarch and referenced moments with his late grandmother that he said he would “cherish.”“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,” Prince Harry stated in his tribute.
Prince Harry recalled the late Queen’s warm reaction to meeting her great-grandchildren during the family’s 2022 visit to the UK.Image credit (Instagram)
He continued with reflections on the significance of those moments. “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. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III,” he concluded.
King Charles meets his granddaughter for the first time
It was previously confirmed that King Charles also met his granddaughter Princess Lilibet for the first time during the June 2022 visit. A royal source described the encounter positively at the time. “It was a fantastic visit. The prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time,” the source said, noting that it was “wonderful” to have Harry and Meghan back in Britain.The source elaborated on the emotional significance of the meeting for King Charles. “It was very special to have some time with him. He hadn’t met Lilibet, his granddaughter, and so to meet her for the first time was very emotional — it was a wonderful thing,” they added, underscoring how meaningful the encounter was for the then-Prince Charles.
Prince Harry’s anticipated return to the United Kingdom
Despite the ongoing family squabbles, Prince Harry is set to make a trip to the UK in the coming week to celebrate the 1-year mark until the Invictus Games take place in Birmingham in 2027 proving his continued dedication to the sporting event.
