Prince Harry To Miss Queen Elizabeth’s 95th Birthday As He Returns Home To California

Apr 21, 2021 by apost team

While it was earlier believed that Prince Harry may have extended his stay in the UK to be there for his grandmother's birthday, it is now reported that Harry has returned to the US ahead of Elizabeth's birthday. His wife, Meghan Markle, is heavily pregnant with their second child, a girl, and could not join her husband to attend his grandfather's funeral. 

Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021, was a quiet affair with only 30 people in attendance due to the coronavirus restrictions. Generally, a man of Philips's stature would have received a state funeral with a minimum of 800 people in attendance, but this could not happen due to the ongoing pandemic. The guestlist of 30 people only comprised of the closest royal family members, which naturally included all of Philip's children and many of his grandchildren.

Philip's passing ended his reign as the longest-serving royal spouse, having served alongside Queen Elizabeth II for 65 years and having been married to the monarch for 73 years in total. His singular and incredible life continues to be remembered and celebrated by his family.

The queen's birthday on April 21, 2021, will be the first one without her husband in over seven decades. There is no doubt that the queen will continue mourning her husband during her birthday, which will not be celebrated with any pomp this year. However, the queen will not be alone for her birthday, as the Mirror reported that Kate Middleton and other members of the royal family are making a plan for a small, toned-down celebration.

Upon arriving in the U.K. on April 11, 2021, Harry quarantined at his former home, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor for five days before attending his grandfather's funeral on April 17. The current rules stipulate that travelers arriving from America must self-isolate for 10 days, however, they are allowed to attend funerals on the grounds of compassion. Reports said that Harry was able to leave isolation after only five days by utilizing the U.K. government's test-and-release scheme, which allowed him to leave following a negative Covid test. 

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's abrupt departure as senior working members of the Royal Family in March 2020, this is the first time that Harry and his family reunited. The already tense relationship between Harry and the family ignited further after Harry and Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a controversial interview in March 2021. During the television special, the couple openly criticized the royal family and its culture. 

After the funeral, Harry reportedly engaged in two hours of "peace talks" with his brother Prince William, the Daily Mail reported. They also reported that the two brothers' peace talks included their father Prince Charles. Harry and William's conversation after the funeral was widely reported and pointed to a thawing in their currently cold relationship. 

The reported rift between Harry and William has played out in many ways before the funeral, however, one of which was the eschewing of military uniforms for Philip's funeral, which was met with some shock by the public. During the funeral cortege, the brothers were also separated by their cousin Peter Phillips. One report suggested that Prince William had requested it, while a friend of Harry's told the Daily Mail, "He's just doing what he's told and getting on with it." 

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The Daily Mail reported that Harry is understood to have flown into Los Angeles on an American Airlines flight from London Heathrow, and arrived in California on Tuesday, April 20, just one day before Elizabeth's birthday. After arriving in LA, he was then driven to his home in Montecito, California. Harry was reportedly "conflicted" about leaving, but thought it was more important to return home to his pregnant wife Meghan Markle, and toddler Archie, according to the news outlet. 

Though Harry was able to have some "peace talks" with his father and brother, their relationship is still largely unresolved. 

Following the controversial Oprah interview which aired in March 2021, Metro UK reported that Harry's relationship with his father hit "rock bottom" after a "complete communication breakdown." Charles was thought to be "very hurt" after the two-hour special aired, especially because Harry accused Charles of no longer taking his calls. As per the news outlet, sources claim that Harry was "forced to write letters" to the Prince of Wales because of the lack of communication. Harry also reached out to his father before he prepared to reunite with his family for the first time since leaving for the US in March 2020. 

The queen's birthday this year is still marked by mourning. While every year the queen releases a portrait of herself for her birthday, for the first time in over 70 years, she has no plans to release one this year according to PEOPLE. Daily Mail also reported that neither Charles nor William will be meeting the queen for her birthday. 

How do you feel about Harry's early return to the US? Tell us what your thoughts are, and be sure to let others know about Harry's return if they didn't already know about it.