The Duke of Sussex had a private meeting with another royal during his dazzling trip to the UK. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, Harry wants to remain a member of the royal family despite this decision.
Prince Harry’s secret visit to the see Duchess of Kent during his whirlwind UK trip was an important olive branch for the royals, according to an expert.
During his four-day return to his home country, the Duke of Sussex met with his father King Charles for a 55-minute private tea at Clarence House, marking their first meeting since February 2024.
Away from the spotlight, Harry also met with another member of the royal family on his visit, with his spokesperson confirming that he met Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent at Kensington Palace. The prince paid his respects following the death of his wife, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who passed away on 4 September at the age of 92.
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Harry departed the UK before the Duchess’ funeral at Westminster Cathedral, instead travelling to Ukraine for a long-arranged meeting with injured soldiers in the war-torn region.
With the duke taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with the Duke of Kent, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes he is trying to mend bridges within the royal family.
She exclusively told the Mirror: “I think it’s a sign that Harry very much wants to remain part of the royal family. But that doesn’t mean he wants to be part of the institution. Family ties seem to mean a lot to him these days, in spite of the damage he has done and the hurt he has caused.”
She continued to discuss the Kents’ relationship with Harry, highlighting how the prince felt compelled to express his condolences in person.
She continued, “Harry and Meghan’s wedding was a significant event in his life for many years. Harry was undoubtedly moved by the Duchess’ presence because it was one of her few public appearances.
I’m sure he thought it was a good idea to go see the Duke and express his condolences in person. Even though his life is now elsewhere, we are aware that he is seeking reconciliation, and this was just one more small step.
While Prince Harry didn’t attend the Duchess’s funeral, held in London on September 16, Jennie Bond believes this was a decision made by Harry to not steal the spotlight at such a sombre event, and to fulfil his engagement in Ukraine.
Bond said, “No one has confirmed whether he was invited to the funeral itself” or not. However, he would have known that this day would have been dedicated to the Duchess, and that he would have been the subject of all the headlines. Therefore, I believe it was wise for him to avoid.
It would have been very difficult to reschedule the trip because of the length of his planned meeting in Ukraine, which must have involved some very complex preparations. In the end, I believe he chose the wisest course of action: he first saw the ailing Duke in a private setting before leaving the rest of the family to mourn in public.
Source: Mirror
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