The Duke of Sussex thanks his late grandmother, saying “you and grandpa are reunited now”.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Duke of Sussex has remembered his grandmother’s “infectious smile” in a touching tribute to the late Queen.
Describing Elizabeth II as a “guiding compass” in her commitment to service and duty, Prince Harry said he was grateful for the “special moments” they shared.
“You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over,” he said.
The duke also said he would now honour his father, Charles, as king.
In his statement, Prince Harry echoed words spoken by the Queen’s husband the Duke of Edinburgh: “Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.”
He said: “Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings – from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.
“I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between.
“You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over.
“And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.”
He thanked the Queen for her “sound advice” and “infectious smile”.
He concluded: “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
His statement is thought to have been held back a day and released on Monday out of respect for the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The duke used a photograph of him smiling with the Queen at the 2019 wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent, to accompany his tribute.
Princes Harry and William were joined by their wives, Meghan and Catherine, at Windsor on Saturday to view some of the flowers and messages left for the Queen.
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In his tribute on Saturday, Prince William, now the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, said that while the world had “lost an extraordinary leader” he had lost his “Grannie”.
The Sussexes, who live in California, had been in Europe last week when the Queen died, attending Invictus Games events.
