Inside Prince Harry's Reunion With Queen Elizabeth

One of the reported concerns leading up to the airing of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's incendiary interview with Oprah Winfrey was the health of Prince Philip. As covered by Vanity Fair, Philip had recently undergone a heart procedure and was in the hospital at the time, and "some royal watchers" thought it was poor taste to air the revealing interview as he recovered. According to a report by royals expert Gyles Brandreth, via the Daily Mail, Queen Elizabeth's husband thought the interview was "madness." He was not bothered by the timing of the exposé but disapproved of taking family matters public.

Upon Philip's death, Harry released a touching statement about his grandfather. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm," Harry wrote (via Today). The Duke of Sussex paid respect to his grandfather's service but added personal sentiments. "He was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end," Harry added.

Once the duke learned of Philip's death, he planned a trip home to attend the funeral and spend time with his family. Meghan was unable to accompany her husband as she could not get medical clearance to fly while pregnant. Harry had booked an open-ended flight, and there was speculation around how long his trip home would last.

So what happened when Harry finally spoke face-to-face with his family?

Prince Harry's return to Great Britain for Prince Philip's funeral was the first time he spoke face-to-face with his family since stepping down from his royal duties in March 2020. The Duke of Sussex was back for nine days, which included a five-day quarantine period for COVID-19 protocols. As reported by Omid Scobie, a royals expert with a close relationship with Harry and Meghan Markle, for Harper's Bazaar, Harry stayed at Frogmore Cottage on Queen Elizabeth II's grounds while he was home. During Harry's stay, he was able to meet up with Elizabeth on two separate occasions. "The love and respect he has for his grandmother will always be unwavering," a source told the outlet.

As covered by The Sun, the Duke of Sussex was seen exchanging friendly words with Prince William during Philip's funeral. The brothers and Prince Charles all met for a couple of hours behind closed doors afterward, but their conversations did not include the airing of family grievances. "This trip was to honor the life of his grandfather and support his grandmother and relatives. It was very much a family-focused period of time," a source told Harper's. "Saturday broke the ice for future conversations but outstanding issues have not been addressed at any great length."

It had been over a year since Harry saw his brother and father, but he is expected to return to Kensington Palace in the summer for the unveiling of Princess Diana's statue on July 1, 2021, per Cosmopolitan.