Harry's Reunion with Family Could Be Greatest Tribute to Granny Who Took Risk for Him in the '90s, Said Journalist

The day after the Queen's death, it was apparent that her grandson, Prince Harry, was grief-stricken. However, her death might be why Harry finally reunites with his family, as he's already taken the first step. It would be like returning the favor since the Queen once put her position with her people at risk for him and his older brother, Prince William, when they were children.

After the Queen died on September 8, 2022, Prince Harry managed to make it to her vacation country of Scotland with other Royal Family members. However, according to Page Six, the Duke of Sussex only made it to her Balmoral Castle residence hours after she'd died.

On the Archewell foundation page, Harry paid tribute to the late monarch and expressed how he felt about losing her. He confessed that her passing brought the family sadness but shared how he was grateful for all their first meetings.

From his earliest childhood memories with her to when he met her as his Commander-in-Chief for the first time to the moment the monarch met his wife and hugged her great-grandchildren. Harry said he cherished all the times and all the special moments he got to share with the Queen, adding:

"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."

The duke thanked his late grandmother for her "sound advice," "commitment to service," and her "infectious smile." The day after the Queen's death, Harry was spotted leaving the castle at around 8:15 a.m.

According to Express, the duke looked "grief-stricken" as he arrived at Aberdeen International Airport to board a British Airways flight. While on his way to the board, he was accompanied by and conversated with a woman who appeared to work at the airport.

At one point, Harry put his hand on her shoulder, seemingly consoling or thanking her for sharing her condolences. The royal and his wife, Duchess Meghan, were finishing off their tour of Europe when the Queen passed.

The publication claimed the couple would be staying in the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the state funeral on September 19, 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expected to remain at their former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.

It's expected that Harry would feel the loss of his grandmother the most because they were extremely close despite the rift that existed between his family and the other royals.

How Harry's Role Has Changed since Losing the Queen

Now that Her Majesty was no longer around, Harry had risen to fifth place in the line of succession. The Express believed he could be required to play the role of state counselor for King Charles III, his father if needed.

That was how it was when the Queen reigned. Being the son of the current monarch meant Harry could be expected to support King Charles with his duties the same way William would; however, the Sussexes were no longer working Royal Family members.

The publication claimed Meghan and her husband weren't expected to take up their roles again since they'd relocated to the United States (US). Harry's title hadn't changed since his father became King.

However, George V's Letters Patent of 1917 said his children were now eligible to receive Prince and Princess titles, but it wasn't clear if they'd use them. Television host for GB News and journalist, Dan Wootton, wrote in Daily Mail that he believed the Queen's death brought their families closer, adding:

"If the life of Elizabeth II has taught us one thing, it is that blood is thicker than water."

Wootton shared it was why he couldn't "shake the sadness" he felt that Her Majesty left a divided family. The reporter also revealed that he was confident the Royal Family needed each other, especially the new King, stating:

"Charles needs both his sons to become his security blankets at this dark and overwhelming moment in history."

As their grief united the nation, Wootton hoped Harry would put aside his differences with his family for good for the institution the Queen sacrificed so much for. The journalist felt the best way to honor the late monarch would be for Harry to reconcile with his father and brother.

Wootton imaged the duke pledging to move on from the family feud and declaring his support to the King. He thought the British people would be thrilled with Harry and his wife pushing for an era of harmony by canceling the publication of the duke's autobiography.

The journalist believed the UK needed to see the three senior Royal Family members "reunited and unbreakable" again to memorialize the Queen and for the survival of the monarchy. Harry was expected to be more heartbroken about the loss of his grandmother because she'd once sacrificed her popularity in 1997 to stay with him.

The Queen's Sacrifices for Her Grandchildren

On August 31, 1997, when Harry, then-12, and William's mother, Princess Diana, passed away, the Queen's first instinct was to protect the two boys. At the time, the siblings spent the summer at the monarch's Scotland residence of Balmoral Castle.

The Queen had ordered her staff to let the boys sleep before informing them of the tragic news. The family attended church despite the loss, but Her Majesty banned anyone from mentioning the People's Princess during the service.

The documentary "Diana: 7 Days that Shook the Windsors" claimed the Queen worried about the princes hearing the details of their mother's death on the news. She told her staff to hide or move all of the televisions and radios in Balmoral to allow the siblings to grieve in peace.

According to Tina Brown, the author of the "Diana Chronicles," the Queen insisted on the siblings staying with her at Balmoral. Her Majesty put her family before her people for the first time in her reign, with Brown adding:

"Her thoughts were with her grandchildren, and she wasn't thinking about how this would be played out in the media."

A royal expert who spoke to Express said the Queen received criticism from the public for keeping the boys at Balmoral. She used the summer place to "hibernate" away from the media.

A YouTube clip by the Royal Family channel showed people openly grieving Diana's death while the monarch and her grandsons continued mourning privately. People queued outside for hours with no attendance from the Royal Family.

Instead, Diana's boyfriend's father was the one who walked around giving mourners drinks. Soon enough, the public started becoming angry when they noticed that the flag wasn't being flown at half-mast at Buckingham Palace.

The monarch started facing the lowest popularity of her reign as she continued breaking royal tradition. Some people who were interviewed described the Queen's choice not to speak up or fly the flag low as "disgraceful," "disgusting," and "cold-hearted."

Years before, Harry and William's grandmother did her best to help them overcome their grief and to unite the family. However, now, even though the public had doubts about Harry reuniting with his family, there were hopeful signs.

Signs That Harry Might Reunite with the Royal Family

Despite a long-standing rift, William and Harry could put their differences aside after the Queen's death to honor their grandmother's memory. The duo shocked the world when they came out as a united front with their wives, including Princess Kate, at Windsor Castle.

They reunited to take the Long Walk to view the flowers and tributes left by the mourning public. Baljinder Ranow, a well-wisher, described the moment of unity as "fabulous" and "so beautiful to see," confessing how she felt emotional.

[Baljinder] Ranow hoped [Prince] William and [Prince] Harry would remain the same way and come together with their families in the future.

People magazine alleged that Kensington Palace said William was the one who invited the Sussexes for the walkabout. Another insider shared how even the security hadn't expected both couples there.

The Prince of Wales reportedly felt the walkabout was crucial in showing unity while they mourned. A palace source also informed the publication how the moment impacted the royals, stating:

"It's such an extraordinary historical moment and also a deeply personal one for the family."

Nicola Standen, a UK mourner, believed Her Majesty would've been proud of her grandsons joining together at Windsor Castle. She speculated that it was what the Queen wanted because nobody wanted people upset in their family.

Standen also thought the late monarch wanted the siblings to support each other during this trying time. She was sure that their grandmother was looking down on them proudly as they'd faced great grief in the past, and it was good that they supported each other.

Ranow hoped William and Harry would remain the same way and come together with their families in the future. Here's to wishing them all the best and strength as they grieve.