Thursday, September 8, 2022 became a very sad day for the British royal family and for millions of people in Britain.
The day of Queen Elizabeth II’s death not only left a deep sadness, but also uncovered the tensions that existed between her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Writer Craig Brown, in his most recent book, has revealed new details about those days, highlighting the estrangement that was already sensed between the siblings and which reportedly became more acute in the hours before and after the monarch’s passing.
Harry and William’s Rift After Queen’s Passing
By the morning of that day, concern had already set in at Balmoral.
As recounted in her book A Voyage Around The Queen, Princess Anne, visibly uneasy, shared her fears with her older brother, the then Prince Charles, about their mother’s delicate state of health.
Shortly thereafter, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Birkhall, their residence on the Balmoral estate, and spent an hour at the Queen’s bedside.
The family doctor, Douglas Glass, informed them that the situation was serious, but not yet imminent: the queen had days, not hours, left.
Meanwhile, in London, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were preparing to attend an awards ceremony.
It was midday when King Charles called Harry to inform him that the queen’s health had taken a turn for the worse.
Harry received the call, but his phone screen only showed “unknown number.” When he answered the call, he heard his father’s voice, who, in a low tone, told him the news.
Immediately afterwards, Harry sent a message to his brother William, asking if he and Kate would be traveling to Scotland, and if so, when they planned to do so. However, his message received no response.
As the day progressed, rumors about the Queen’s condition began to circulate on social media, some even suggesting that she had already passed away.
At 12:50 noon, Buckingham Palace announced that Elizabeth II’s sons, including Andrew and Edward, along with his wife Sophie, and grandson William, were on their way to Balmoral.
In response to this, Harry and Meghan issued their own statement, informing that they would both be flying to Scotland, which meant they would not be able to attend the charity event in London.
However, trouble started at 2:15 p.m., when Prince Charles called Harry again, this time to ask him not to take Meghan.
Harry found this request absurd and disrespectful. His father tried to apologize, explaining that he didn’t want too many people around, and that none of the wives of the royal family members would be present at Balmoral, including Kate, who stayed in London.
According to the expert, Harry, clearly annoyed reproached his father that that was all he had to say to him.
Meanwhile, William, accompanied by his Uncle Edward, his wife Sophie and Prince Andrew, departed from Northolt Air Base for Scotland.
Harry, meanwhile, secured a private jet from Luton Airport, although he was already considerably behind his relatives.
By three o’clock in the afternoon, the situation at Balmoral was critical. Princess Anne, worried, called her brother Charles, who was in the grounds of Birkhall picking mushrooms, and urged him to return at once.
By the time Dr. Glass arrived at the Queen’s bedside, it was too late: Elizabeth II had stopped breathing.
Sir Edward Young, the assistant private secretary, was in charge of communicating the sad news to the rest of the family.
The siblings arrived at Balmoral within hours of each other. At 5:06 p.m., William appeared at the residence driving a Land Rover, accompanied by his aunt and uncle.
Harry landed in Aberdeen at 6:40 p.m. and received a message from Meghan that made him fear the worst. Checking the BBC website, he realized it was too late: his grandmother had passed away.
Finally, Harry arrived at Balmoral at 7:52 pm. He was greeted by Princess Anne, who embraced him and informed him that the rest of the family was at Birkhall.
After asking him if he wanted to see the Queen, Anne escorted him to the bedroom where Elizabeth II lay.
Harry remained in the room in silence, observing his grandmother’s body.
Although Harry spent the night at Balmoral, he was unable to see either his father or his brother before departing at dawn on September 9.
These events underscore the growing distance between the siblings, which became even more evident at one of the most painful moments of their lives.