Harry Turned to Queen in 'Anguish' Who 'Excitedly' Took His Calls from US Yet 'This Changed' Later, Says Expert

• The late Queen has always been supportive of Harry and reportedly “was also the figure to whom in his anguish he turned as his royal life unraveled.”

• Harry reportedly appeared “traumatized” at his grandmother’s funeral and was “losing the struggle with his emotions”.

• The Duke of Sussex claimed the late monarch spoke to him about things she never discussed with others.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, caused quite the uproar when they quit their royal life in January 2020 and relocated to the US to start a new life.

Fans worldwide reacted to the shocking revelations, with some supporting the couple while others condemned them. In a rare first-person statement, the Queen responded by showing her support.

She revealed that, even though she would have wished for them to continue working full-time, she respected and understood their wish to live a more independent life. She said in the statement, according to The Independent:

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family."

Her reaction surprised many but was an eye-opener into the kind of relationship they shared. The bond between the Queen and her grandson, regardless of the turmoil of his and his wife's departure from royal life, remained a close one, evident from Harry's tribute where he lovingly referred to her as "Granny".

Even after Harry and Meghan began a new life in a foreign land, the Queen often longed for his presence. Daily Mail's Editor At Large, Richard Kay, shed light on the bond that was grandmother and grandson, saying as The Sun reports:

“There is no doubt that grandson and monarch had a close bond. The Queen's staff have told me how in the early days of Harry's exile in America, the Queen would excitedly take his phone calls."

In the months that followed, Harry sought the Queen's councel, and she became the figure he often looked up to when his life took unexpected turns. It was thus a surprise for the since-departed monarch when Harry began complaining about his life as a working royal. Kay says:

"Over time, this changed and she later became perplexed by Harry's complaints."

Even as their relationship deteriorated, they maintained an unmatched mutual love and respect for each other, and their bond remained unscathed.

It was thus not shocking that Harry did not take her death lightly. He reportedly appeared traumatized at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral while seated behind his father, King Charles III.

Harry’s Emotions during His Grandmother’s Funeral

Losing his grandmother was a painful experience for Harry. After his mother, Princess Diana's died in 1997, the Queen became a second mother to Harry and his brother Prince William, protecting and helping them cope with the tragedy.

It was thus understandable that her death would hit them hard. Royal expert Shannon Felton Spence told Fox News that Harry looked traumatized as he sat next to his wife at the funeral.

Body language expert Judi James interpreted some of Harry's body language during the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, claiming that Harry struggled with his emotions for the entirety of the service.

Harry occasionally dabbed at tears and threw intense stares at William, his face displaying intense sadness. However, the look of desolation appeared to intensify after the crowd sang the national anthem.

Harry struggled with mouthing the word "King", — which has since replaced "Queen" in the National Anthem. James says that there was no shaping of the lips and his mouth almost stopped moving whenever he came to it, which she interprets as a sign of denial. She told Metro.co.uk:

"The change of words from 'God Save The Queen' to the King can prompt strong emotions, as the reality of the Queen’s death and the changes ahead sink in."

The prince's brows also appeared to knit and pucker, and whenever he closed his mouth, the corners seemed to pull down, indicating sadness.

Harry Cherished His Bond with the Queen

Time and again, Harry has discussed the special bond he shared with his grandmother. During an interview with NBC News' "Today" show, he let the interviewer, Hoda Kotb in on his relationship with the Queen, saying as Insider reports:

"Being with her, it was great."

He told Kotb that his favorite thing about the Queen was her sense of humor before declaring that the Queen shared and talked to him about things she never told anyone else.

While there are many private moments the two have shared, there are a few public ones that have melted many a heart. For instance, during the 2016 Invictus Games, the Queen joined her grandson for a playful video where the Obamas teased him about the games.

The laid-back video was one of the many times Harry brought out a side of the Queen the public never knew existed, and it underlined the respect between them. True to his word, Harry is one of the few that could nudge that side of the Queen. A friend would say of their bond:

"If Harry asks, the Queen would say yes— as she adores him."

In recent years, even with miles between them, the Queen and his grandson remained close and their relationship intact. During the final years of the monarch's life, she kept up to date with Harry's life and that of his family. She reportedly kept in touch with her great-grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet via video calls.

After a long while away, Harry and his wife dropped by Windsor to see the Queen on their way to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in April. The visit was the couple's first joint trip since they relocated to the US in 2020.

The prince also feels lucky that his youngest child, Lilibet got to meet her great-grandmother when the family jetted in for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. It was the first time Lilibet was meeting the Queen as she was born long after Harry and Meghan moved to the US.