Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry before 'family summit' after funeral - as it's revealed Duke of Sussex flew to UK with his own US private security team to be met by Met Police at Heathrow
Title : Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry before 'family summit' after funeral - as it's revealed Duke of Sussex flew to UK with his own US private security team to be met by Met Police at Heathrow
Link : Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry before 'family summit' after funeral - as it's revealed Duke of Sussex flew to UK with his own US private security team to be met by Met Police at Heathrow
- Source told MailOnline that Charles and Harry spent some time together following Prince Philip's funeral
- Then had a 'family meeting', during which source says they began looking at hundreds of condolence letters
- The Duke of Sussex is now set to miss the Queen's birthday by flying back to Los Angeles today, it is claimed Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry at Windsor Castle after his father the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral before later taking part in a 'family summit', a source said today.
It is not clear what was discussed at the meeting, but the source said they began the 'long task' of looking at condolence letters sent from around the world.'
The talks come as speculation whirls around when the Duke of Sussex will fly back to LA to be with pregnant wife Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry arrived in the UK on April 11, reportedly with his own US private security team.
According to the Telegraph, the Duke was met at Heathrow Airport by Met Poilce officers, who helped whisk him off to the royal residence of Frogmore Cottage - where he was placed into quarantine ahead of the funeral.
The prince is said to have booked a return flight on British Airways. The airline has just one direct flight to LA, which left Heathrow at 4.30pm. It is not clear if Harry left on that flight.
If Harry did return today, he will miss the Queen's upcoming 95th birthday on Wednesday.
A source told MailOnline it was likely the Prince would leave for LA this afternoon, but that the Prince had managed to hold talks with his family.
The source said: 'Harry and Charles walked and talked at Windsor after the funeral. My understanding is that Harry goes back today. They talked with Harry as a family.'
It comes as a royal expert said that the Queen's new puppies will play an important role as she continues to mourn for her beloved husband of 73 years.
Prince Harry (left) and Prince Charles (right) at Philip's funeral in Windsor Castle on Saturday, where they walked behind his personalised Land Rover hearse
Meghan and Harry personally chose the locally-sourced flowers for their wreath (second from right) - including Acanthus mollis and Eryngium. Pictured: Wreaths from members of the royal family lie against the pews during the funeral Harry made the 10-hour flight to Britain for the funeral this week while his wife Meghan - who is around seven-months pregnant with their second child - remained in LA.
Arrivals from the US must quarantine for 10 days upon landing - but can leave after five days if they provide a negative test under the Government's Test to Release scheme.
Harry was allowed to attend the funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Saturday in line with Government rules that make exceptions for such occasions.
He arrived in England last Saturday, which means - should he have tested negative - the duke no longer needs to isolate in Windsor.
He is understood to be based in Frogmore Cottage for the rest of his stay. He and Meghan lived in the house on the Windsor estate during their time as senior royals.
It is there that he is said to have met Prince Charles, just weeks after the Sussexes plunged the monarchy into crisis when they accused the royals of racism and the institution of failing to support Meghan when she was suicidal in their Oprah Winfrey interview.
Following the bombshell tell-all - which included Harry's claim that he needed to 'educate' his relatives - Prince Charles was said to be 'deeply hurt' but resolved to 'mend the broken relationship' with his son.
Poignant images from Philip's funeral on Saturday showed the Queen sitting alone in St George's Chapel at Windsor, and on Wednesday she will mark her 95th birthday - only able to meet those outside her household in the open air.
But the grieving Queen will have two lively new companions - a corgi called Muick and a dorgi named Fergus - running around her feet and providing a 'distraction', along with her elderly dorgi Candy.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said: 'The thinking was enough was enough, and that she was getting too old for new dogs and who would look after them when she was gone.
'But clearly that decision was reversed and, as it turned out, it probably is very fortuitous. I think it's useful to have these puppies in her life now as way of a distraction.'
The Queen's life-long love of horses and dogs is well known and, while Philip spent his final period in hospital, it emerged the Queen had been given the puppies.
Prince Harry speaks to Prince William as they leave the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday afternoon
The source told MailOnline this morning: 'Harry and Charles walked and talked at Windsor after the funeral. My understanding is that Harry goes back today. They talked with Harry as a family.' Pictured: Prince Philip's funeral
Frogmore Cottage was Harry's old address where he previously lived with his wife Meghan Markle
Duchess of Cornwall dedicates the second season of her online book club in memory of 'great fellow reader' Prince Philip
By Jessica Green for MailOnline
The Duchess of Cornwall has shared a touching dedication to her late father-in-law the Duke of Edinburgh following his funeral on Saturday.
Having launched her very own online book club at the start of this year, Camilla, 73, dedicated its second season in memory of 'great fellow reader' Prince Philip, who died on April 9, aged 99 at Windsor Castle.
On Instagram today, the duchess revealed the second four personal picks for her Reading Room - ranging from fantasy novels to romantic tales.
She shared the titles alongside a special message, in which she dedicated the second season of her project to Prince Philip.
The duchess wrote: 'As Patron of Booktrust, which I inherited from my late father-in-law His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, I would like to dedicate the next series of my Reading Room to him, in memory of a great fellow reader..... C.'
The Duchess of Cornwall has shared a touching dedication (pictured) to her late father-in-law the Duke of Edinburgh following his funeral on Saturday
Mr Little believes that, while Buckingham Palace will remain the seat of the royal court, the Queen may make Windsor Castle her permanent home, travelling to the capital for official events.
The Queen's birthday will fall during the period of royal mourning so any public events to mark it - such as the release of an official picture - are likely to be cancelled.
Mr Little said: 'She will mark her first birthday as a widow, and 95 is quite a significant birthday.
'I don't think there would have been a fuss made of it, but nevertheless 95 is quite something. This is going to be a private day for her and that's how it should be.
'Royal mourning continues until Friday so that makes it even more of a sombre occasion.'
In paying tribute to Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor on April 9, aged 99, members of the royal family have been rallying to the Queen's side and said they will continue to support her in the future.
The Queen returned to public duties a few days after the death of her 'beloved' husband and is expected to return to a full diary of official events after the period of royal mourning ends this week.
Mr Little added: 'I think she will be personally devastated by this, but I don't think the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, her husband of 73 years, is going to impact on her working role.
'I think, as monarch, although she doesn't have him there for guidance, I think her role will continue pretty much as it has for the last 69 years.
'There's the public queen and there's the private queen, and she's great at being able to compartmentalise.'
The Queen has been spending the lockdown at Windsor Castle with a reduced number of staff and aides dubbed HMS Bubble and, under Covid regulations, will be restricted in the number of birthday well-wishers she can see outside.
But Philip's funeral would have provided the opportunity for her to speak with the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and her other grandchildren.
Asked about the funeral during a briefing, the Prime Minister's official spokesman highlighted that Boris Johnson had observed the national minute's silence in memory of the duke on Saturday afternoon.
He added: 'Alongside many of us across the country, he thought that the funeral was a poignant and fitting tribute to a much-loved and highly respected public figure, whose extraordinary life we will forever remember with gratitude for his decades of selfless service to this country.'
Sources told the Telegraph official and personal duties cannot be decided separately because they are too closely linked.
Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen (pictured on Saturday) will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge (pictured with the other royals on Saturday) are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues
Prince Andrew left his father's funeral in back of his new £220,000 Bentley that replaces older model
Prince Andrew left the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in the back of his new £220,000 racing-green Bentley which he had fitted with personalised number plates.
The Duke of York, 61, sat in the back of the 200mph Bentley Flying Spur - which was blue when first delivered in September before being spray-painted.
The motor, with its personalised number plate, was pictured driving out of Windsor Castle on the way to nearby Royal Lodge, the home Andrew shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 61.
Prince Andrew left Prince Philip's funeral in a brand new £220,000 racer-green Bentley
Just hours earlier, Prince Andrew walked behind his father's coffin as it was slowly carried to St George's Chapel in Windsor on the back of a custom-built Land Rover hearse. Inside the chapel, Andrew sat closest to the Queen - with the family still separated by several empty chairs due to social distancing rules.
Previous Bentley: The Duke of York driving a Bentley Continental GT - the old Bentley he replaced
Prince Charles is said to be taking the lead in the talks due to him becoming king first and because any immediate decisions will impact his reign.
But he is understood to have wanted his son the Duke of Cambridge involved every step of the way for major policies that affect him when he inherits the throne.
Meanwhile Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are believed to be stepping into the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit.
They are expected to take on bigger roles despite already fulfilling 544 duties as of the last year before the coronavirus lockdown.
Harry and Meghan did 558 jobs between them in 2019, meaning the Royals have to review how these will be redistributed.
Prince Andrew, who stepped back from duties after his Newsnight interview over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, also has roles that may need to be dished out.
The Duke of York, Prince Philip and Prince Harry have hundreds of patronages and military titles that now need to be taken on.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues.
They are said to have rocketed in importance for the Queen and Charles after Harry and Meghan's review period ended last month.
But the decline in the Duke of Edinburgh's health followed by his death just over a week ago shifted the focus.
Prince Charles had wanted a smaller monarchy made up of the Queen, Prince Philip, himself, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, the Cambridges and Prince Harry.
In these plans the Duke of Sussex was expected to help out until William and Kate's children George, Charlotte and Louis grew up and took on roles.
Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down.
A source said: 'The question is whether you start off by deciding how many patronages and engagements there should be, and then work out how many people are needed to achieve them, or whether you decide how many people there should be, which will dictate how many engagements and patronages they can take on.'
Prince Charles took part in 550 Royal duties in 2019 while the Duke of Cambridge focused on 220.
Prince William is believed to prefer a targeted approach so he can lend more support to each cause.
Currently around 15 members of the Royal Family take part in more than 3,000 duties per year.
Charles' funeral masterstroke: RICHARD KAY on how the prince's off-the-cuff gesture - forcing the royals to WALK together to Windsor Castle after the service - may just reunite his warring sons
Richard Kay for the Daily Mail
On a day of meticulous planning, it was the one and only off-the-cuff decision. And it turned out to be a masterstroke.
As the limousines drew up to take mourners from the Galilee porch of St George's Chapel back to Windsor Castle's private quarters, Prince Charles used the briefest of gestures to send them, empty of their royal passengers, away.
Impromptu perhaps, common sense even, but it was a signal every bit as eloquent as the spine-tingling music that accompanied the coffin containing the earthly remains of his 'dear papa' to its resting place in the royal vault.
For instead of hiding behind the bulletproof glass of their chauffeur-driven cars, the family walked side by side together, ripped off their face masks and talked.
This could have been a moment of risk, instead it allowed us the first glimpse of the possibility that somehow William and Harry can put their bitter split behind them and rebuild that once whisper-close bond.
Chat: Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Prince William talk as they walk away from the service
It is hard to read too much into this encounter, for it was all too brief, but if there is to be reconciliation between the brothers, this was surely the moment of its inception.
More than a year has passed since they were last seen in public together, a year in which so many assumptions about their relationship have been torn asunder.
The fall-out from Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview is still raw and its issues, not least the claims that a member of the Royal Family had made racist comments about the colour of their son Archie's skin, remain unresolved.
That it should be Kate playing the role of peacemaker was significant too.
Her sister-in-law had discourteously referred to Kate's pre-marriage 'Waity Katie' nickname during the interview and claimed that it was the Duchess of Cambridge who had made her cry over the bridesmaids dresses for her wedding – a claim that was met with deafening silence.
For Charles, who needs both his sons now as never before, this was the first sign of his new role as head of the family.
In the past week his life has changed utterly and he now must, above all, ensure that his own difficult and often misunderstood relationship with his father is not repeated with his sons.
Was this what was going through his mind as he led the sombre line of mourners out of the chapel into the sunshine?
By sending his car away he was laying down his first act as the Royal Family's new paterfamilias. The others had to follow and did.
What it demonstrated was that, for all the military precision and formality of the funeral behind which bereavement could seek refuge, there was a willingness to show that the Windsors were as bereft as any family losing a loved one.
Clambering into cars to travel silently back to the castle might have preserved royal dignity, but going by foot allowed us to see them in all their vulnerability.
Crucially it also provided a chance to build bridges between William and Harry and it was Kate who seized the opportunity.
As they emerged into the castle precincts she was already chatting animatedly with Harry. With no cars to collect them there was no alternative but to walk.
Soon William, who had exchanged pleasantries with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner, had joined them.
And just as she had arrived at Harry's side, Kate then melted away.
By now both brothers had removed their Covid masks and there was just a flicker that the frost between them might be thawing as they began the walk up Chapel Hill.
'Make no mistake, this was as much for the benefit of the cameras as anything substantial', says a royal figure. 'Don't read too much into it. Baby steps maybe.'
Unscripted: The royals walk after Charles sends his car away after the service
All the same the fact that they were talking at all seemed anything but likely when they had emerged from the castle an hour or so earlier.
The distance between them then looked unbridgeable with the impassive Peter Phillips, their former rugby-playing cousin, sturdily between them.
Prince William was as inscrutable as on that September day almost 24 years ago when he walked behind his mother's coffin. He looked neither left nor right, keeping his gaze steadily ahead.
For his part Harry seemed to be taking in the pageantry of the occasion, perhaps in the knowledge that it no longer plays any part in his life now he has stepped back from royal duties.
At the steps to the chapel's west door the cortege paused for the national minute's silence and Peter appeared to pull back as if to allow the brothers a chance to move together.
They did not and William proceeded to his seat along with Peter while Harry walked to his with their other cousin David (the Earl of) Snowdon.
Once inside the chapel they sat apart too. William and Kate on one side of the quire, Harry facing them directly opposite, but alone. If they did make eye contact, the television cameras did not record it.
If there had been hope that their grandfather's death and funeral might mean some kind of royal reconciliation, the hopes at that moment looked to have been dashed.
Since his return to Britain a week ago, Harry had been isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the house given to him and Meghan as a wedding present by the Queen.
But his presence had brought about one change to Saturday's proceedings: the royals' decision not to wear military uniform.
This was to spare Harry, who was no longer entitled to ceremonial dress since being obliged to give up all his military patronages.
There were reports that the brothers had exchanged texts but nothing more.
After the service as they walked back to the castle the two continued to talk and this time Kate was with them.
For a moment it was just like turning back the clock to the years before Meghan came into his life when Harry shared everything – on and off duty – with William and Kate. But with no formal wake because of social distancing the funeral party broke up quickly.
'Everyone stood around in the quadrangle chatting for a little while and then left,' says one insider.
It is understood that Prince Edward and his family did stay for tea with the Queen.
For Prince Charles, his is a future of dizzying and perplexing family problems, not eased by his father's passing but deepened by it.
He must be a rock for the Queen who will depend on him more than ever, but also find the will to restore the unity of the Royal Family by bringing his sons together.
Talk of a family summit and even of Charles taking his son for a walk round Windsor to look at the flowers left in tribute to Prince Philip – just as he did after Diana's death all those years ago – are, I am told, wide of the mark.Although Harry is understood to have an open return air ticket – meaning he could travel at any time – he is anxious to return to America to be with Meghan, who is thought to be seven months pregnant with their second child.
It is inevitable that Charles will look to William to take the lead in this.
The one hope is a date in the calendar both princes have – the unveiling of the statue of their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday on July 1.
It does not involve their father but it can surely only happen if the brothers are properly talking.
This week Charles has been concentrating on the wider family, speaking to them all and sharing memories of his father.
He has asked them all to pull together to help the Queen. Many watching on were shocked by the Queen's apparent frailty at the funeral but the prince knows that his mother will not slacken her pace.
Life for her revolves around Windsor Castle. All being well, next year will mark her platinum jubilee, 70 years on the throne, and it is already being planned.
For Charles, as sad as his father's passing undoubtedly has been, the priority now is the reintegration of Harry into royal life.
There was palpable tension at Windsor on Saturday.
Some reports yesterday said that neither his aunt Princess Anne nor his uncle Prince Edward acknowledged Harry before or during the service.
If there is to be a dividend from the sadness of Philip's death, Charles will fervently hope that it will come thanks to his decision to send away the cars and force his sons to start to bury their differences. An awful lot depends on it.
Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry before 'family summit' after funeral - as it's revealed Duke of Sussex flew to UK with his own US private security team to be met by Met Police at Heathrow
Prince Charles 'walked and talked' with Prince Harry before 'family summit' after funeral - as it's revealed Duke of Sussex flew to UK with his own US private security team to be met by Met Police at Heathrow
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