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10th Sep 2022

Charles ‘told Prince Harry not to bring Meghan Markle to Balmoral to see dying Queen’

Steve Hopkins

The King reportedly told Prince Harry that it was ‘not right’ to bring Meghan to Balmoral

King Charles III reportedly told Prince Harry not to bring Meghan Markle to Balmoral Castle as the royals raced to be at the Queen’s beside before she passed away on Thursday afternoon.

The Duke of Sussex, The Sun reported, was told it was “not right” that Meghan join the family at the Scottish estate. Harry was reportedly the first royal to leave the estate on Friday and was the last to arrive, after it was initially reported he was travelling there with his wife.

The newspaper said King Charles and sister Anne, the Princess Royal were the only royals to see the Queen before she passed away peacefully. Her two eldest children were in Scotland when it was announced doctor’s had become concerned for her health and put her under medical supervision.

The Sun said Prince Harry was at Frogmore Cottage when he received a call from his father asking him not to bring Meghan.

“Charles told Harry that it wasn’t right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time,” a source told the newspaper.

“It was pointed out to him that Kate was not going and that the numbers really should be limited to the very closest family.

“Charles made it very, very clear Meghan would not be welcome.”

The Telegraph further reported that Harry was not initially called upon when senior royals staring making their way to Balmoral, like his brother, Prince William.

A source told the newspaper: “I think the general reaction to Harry and Meghan’s behaviour has been one of incredulity to be honest.”

Harry and Meghan’s plans to travel together to Balmoral, were released in a statement shortly before 2pm on Thursday. It was then later reported that Meghan was not coming.

An initial statement read: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be travelling to Scotland.”

Reports have since suggested that announcement was news to the Palace, and not long afterwards a spokesperson for the couple clarified that “only the duke was travelling at the moment”.

It is not known how much of a role the Palace played in the position changing, or if Meghan did not attend as it emerged William’s wife, now the Princess of Wales, was not doing so. The couple may have been unaware of that.

The initial decision in itself, that both Sussexes would travel, was seen as inappropriate, according to palace insiders, for one very simple reason: this was a private, family moment.

Harry made his own way to Balmoral by private jet and then car, arriving at the castle around 7.50pm, an hour and a half after the palace’s historic statement informing the nation of the Queen’s passing.

He was reportedly seen being driven out at 8.28am Friday and it is suggested he will remain at Frogmore Cottage until after the funeral on September 19.

The revelation comes after The King on Friday extended an olive branch to Harry and Meghan during his first public address at monarch on Friday, saying that he wished to  “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas”.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plunged the monarchy into crisis after upping sticks to California two years ago, before sitting down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

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