Prince Harry mourned Queen Elizabeth II with a touching statement after the monarch died on Thursday at the age of 96.
The Duke of Sussex, 37, shared a message to the late Queen on his and wife Meghan Markle’s Archewell website Monday, specifically signing it from himself alone.
“In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen — and in mourning her loss — we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty,” Harry began, calling the late sovereign a “globally admired and respected” leader with “unwavering grace.”
He continued, “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.
“I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed.”
Harry concluded by thanking his grandmother, noting that she and her late husband, Prince Philip, have been “reunited … in peace.”
The tribute came four days after the Archewell website went dark, showing only a simple message mourning the monarch’s loss.
“In loving memory of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022,” the foundation stated.
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday afternoon that the Queen had died after sharing earlier in the day that her health was declining.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the royal family tweeted. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
Harry rushed from Germany to Scotland to be by Her Majesty’s side once the palace announced she had been put under “medical supervision,” but he arrived to much late.
Page Six reported that the “Suits” alum, 41, did not join him. She did, however, reunite with Harry’s family members on Saturday to pay her respects.
Markle and Harry, who live in Montecito, Calif., and have resigned from their royal duties, will attend the late sovereign’s funeral.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last visited the Queen at her Platinum Jubilee celebration in June.
While Markle and Harry have come out against members of the British royal family and have tense relationships with Prince William and King Charles III, they maintained a good relationship with Harry’s grandmother.
During their infamous tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Markle slammed the royal family for staying silent when she came forward about having suicidal thoughts.
But Markle said the Queen caused no problems for the pair, saying at the time, “There’s the family, then there’s the people that are running the institution. Those are two separate things. It’s important to be able to compartmentalize that, because the Queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me.”
Likewise, Elizabeth has always voiced approval for her grandson’s relationship with Markle.
In November 2017, the monarch shared that she was “delighted” after the pair announced their engagement after almost a year and a half of dating.
A few months later, Elizabeth officially gave her stamp of approval for Harry to wed Markle.
“I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council,” she wrote at the time.
The duo tied the knot in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018.
sources: Page six