Prince Harry was reportedly told about the Queen’s death five minutes before the official announcement, it is claimed.
The Duke of Sussex was on a plane to Aberdeen when he received the crushing phone call from his father.
By the time he landed the news of the Queen’s death had been announced to the world.
A spokesman for the King said: ‘The public was only informed after every family member had been informed.’
The Telegraph reports that royal’s aides struggled to get him on a plane to be at the Queen’s side, whereas William caught a flight from RAF Northolt, alongside Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Harry’s brother landed in Aberdeen at 3.50pm, while the Duke of Sussex took off from Luton airport at 5.35pm.
The monarch’s death was officially announced at 6.30pm, with the Duke’s plane landing in Aberdeen at 6.46pm.
Harry was told the Queen had died at 6.25pm and Charles was “adamant” that the official statement was not released until members of the family had been informed
The reports came as members of the public wondered if Prince Harry was ‘sidelined’ during the Queen’s funeral on Monday because of his seating in Westminster Abbey.
Harry, who was not wearing his military uniform, was seated in the second row behind King Charles II, his father, rather than on the same row.
Some Twitter users were left wondering if Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were ‘snubbed’, while others believed it was just because they are no longer working royals. Others, however, felt it was merely ‘optics’ so he could be capture on the cameras properly.
The King’s eldest son, Prince William, were both seen in their uniforms.
Harry gave up his honorary military titles in 2020 when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior members of the royal family.
Originally, the Duke of Sussex was not allowed to wear his military uniform to this weekend’s vigil.
A spokesperson for Harry released a statement last week, saying, “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
But over the weekend, King Charles III did permit Harry to wear his uniform while standing vigil at their grandmother’s coffin for 15 minutes of silence alongside William and their cousins.
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