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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Jennifer Newton & Ketsuda Phoutinane

Harry's tense trip - Meghan 'row', race to Balmoral and 'snubbing' King Charles

In the Queen's final hours, the royal family raced to be with her in a well-documented dash to Balmoral. Prince Harry cut a lonely figure as travelled by himself - and more details have come out about that fateful day.

Initial reports said Harry was travelling with Meghan, generating confusion when Harry flew solo - not only without his wife but also unaccompanied by family. He was the first to depart Scotland the following morning.

More behind-the-scenes information has since emerged about a reported row about the Duchess of Sussex. The Mirror has put together a detailed timeline on what was happening in the hectic hours and days after Queen Elizabeth II died.

September 8 - lunchtime

Doctors became "concerned" about the Queen's health during her stay in Balmoral (AFP via Getty Images)

On the day of the Queen's death, Harry and Meghan were coincidentally already in the UK as part of a mini European tour. They had already been to Manchester and Dusseldorf and that evening were due to appear at the WellChild Awards in London.

At 12.35pm that day, a statement was released by Buckingham Palace saying doctors had become concerned for the Queen's health and that she was under medical supervision.

Within 15 minutes, a statement said the now King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla would be travelling to be with the Queen - and Prince William would also be going to Balmoral.

September 8 - afternoon

Prince Harry was told of the Queen's death just five minutes before the official announcement, it is claimed. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Just after 1.30pm that day, it was announced Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex were also hurrying to Balmoral.

Minutes later, it was reported Harry and Meghan would be "travelling to Scotland" after changing their plans - although this was later revised to just Harry going to Balmoral. It was thought that Harry would take the same plane from RAF Northolt as his royal relatives - but he instead travelled on a separate private jet.

It has now been reported by The Sun that Harry missed the RAF flight due to a row over Meghan. This was because King Charles told Harry it was "not appropriate" to bring Meghan - and a row ensued.

A source told the newspaper: "Harry was so busy trying to get Meghan to Balmoral and rowing with his family that he missed the flight."

September 8 - evening

Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, travelled to Scotland together (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

William and the other royals were pictured arriving at Balmoral around 5pm that day. By 6.30pm, Buckingham Palace formally announced the Queen's death saying she had passed away peacefully that afternoon.

Harry's separate flight arrived in Aberdeen five minutes after the Queen's death was announced to the world. He was eventually driven through the gates of Balmoral 90 minutes later.

And that night he reportedly refused to have dinner with his father, brother and stepmother Camilla at Charles' Birkhall home - instead eating with his uncles and aunt.

The source added: " Charles has an open invitation for Harry to dine with him whenever he is in the country. But Harry was so furious that he refused to eat with his father and brother. It was a massive snub."

September 9 - morning

Prince Harry appears to be consoled by an airport worker at Abderdeen airport (REUTERS)

The morning after the Queen's death, Harry was the first royal to leave Balmoral catching a British Airways flight from Aberdeen to London Heathrow around 8.30am.

An empathetic member of ground staff could be seen talking to him in the moments before he boarded the plane to leave Scotland.

He was seen putting a kind hand on her back as they chatted in what was clearly an emotional moment between the pair.

Since then...

The Prince and Princess of Wales with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In the days after the Queen's death, Harry and Meghan joined William and wife Kate to greet well-wishers and look at floral tributes left for the Queen at Windsor Castle.

They also attended several services for the late monarch, including her state funeral on Monday, while Harry was allowed to don military uniform during a vigil at Westminster Hall.

The couple is now back in California, where they have been reunited with their children Archie and Lilibet. But royal author Katie Nicholl says there hasn't been a reconciliation between Harry and older brother William.

She told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat: "I wondered if there might be something to suggest that the reconciliation that everyone was hoping for might be taking place.

"I was told by someone very much in the know that that wasn’t the case. There wasn't a private dinner or anything going on... The only meeting we know of was when William was returning from the school run and happened to pass Harry and Meghan in [Windsor] Home Park and had a quick word.

"That suggests we're very far off from a long-term and meaningful reconciliation between these two men."

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