The Queen and Prince Charles have secretly been visited in the UK by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
They jetted in today, April 14, from the US and headed for Windsor Castle for a face-to-face meeting with the monarch, on their way to Holland for the Invictus Games. They smiled and waved at stunned onlookers, having decided not to come for the late Prince Philip's memorial service last month.
At the time of their visit members of the public were in the grounds of the royal estate for the traditional Maundy Thursday ceremony. You can get more Royal Family news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as working members of the Royal Family in March, 2020 and have since settled in California with their two children. There have been tensions between the pair and the rest of the royals due to a series of claims.
Harry has been in an ongoing legal action against the Home Office after it refused to supply him with armed bodyguards during any future visits to Britain.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, described the visit as the offering of an olive branch, reports The Mirror. She said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to clear the air and offer an olive branch. After everything that has gone on it must have taken a lot for Harry and Meghan to go to Windsor. Also, Maundy Thursday is a very special day for the Queen as it is about forgiveness. She is not one to hold grudges and I think she would have happily welcomed them with open arms.”
It's the first time both Harry and Meghan have been back in the UK together since they left two years ago. Harry flew back for his grandfather Philip's funeral in April last year, but a then-heavily pregnant Meghan had been warned against the trip by doctors. The duke was also back last July to join brother Prince William for the unveiling of a statue of their late mum Princess Diana. It is unclear if Archie, two, and 11-month-old daughter Lilibet joined their parents for the visit to see the Queen or if they are back home in Montecito.
One visitor to Windsor who saw the couple on Thursday told the Sun: "I couldn’t believe it when I saw who it was. We waved and they waved back. They looked happy and relaxed and waved to everyone on the bus. Charles and the Queen were at Windsor Castle at the same time so they must have met them both. It was quite the sight. We knew we might see Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the ceremony but never believed we would bump into Harry and Meghan."
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