Prince Harry was reportedly told by Charles that “Meghan would not be welcome” at Balmoral as the family gathered to be with the Queen in her final hours.
Harry was the last to arrive at Balmoral Castle on Thursday and the first to depart on Friday.
In happier times, Harry and his grandmother enjoyed a close, playful rapport, glimpsed by the wider public in 2016 when they appeared together in a comic video, reacting to a mic drop taunt from Barack and Michelle Obama ahead of the Invictus Games, a competition for disabled veterans which Harry has promoted.
But it was pure coincidence that Harry was in Britain when Elizabeth died, and prior to her demise there were no plans announced for him to see his family during his visit from the United States, where he lives with his family.
Only Charles and Anne were able to see the Queen before she died as they were already in Scotland with her health deteriorating.
Harry is believed to have been at Frogmore Cottage when he received the call from Charles to come to Balmoral with the Queen dying - but not to bring Meghan.
“Charles told Harry that it wasn’t right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time,” said a Sun source.
“It was pointed out to him that Kate was not going and that the numbers really should be limited to the very closest family. Charles made it very, very clear Meghan would not be welcome.”
It is also reported that Harry was not allowed on an RAF plane that took William, Edward and Andrew up to Balmoral.
At about 2pm on Thursday, it was announced by Harry and Meghan that they would be flying to Scotland together but then after consultation with the rest of the family, Harry agreed to go on his own.
The delay meant that he did not arrive until 7.52pm almost an hour and half after Buckingham Palace had announced the Queen’s death.
Then at 8.20am on Friday he was back at Aberdeen airport to return to London.
Harry put his arm around the shoulder of an airport worker who had expressed her sympathy while accompanying him across the tarmac.
It was a moment of warmth and informality characteristic of Harry, whose approachable persona long made him one of the most popular royals.
One passenger told The Sun: “He barely moved for the whole hour-long flight and was obviously reflecting on his beloved grandmother.
“It was so sad to see him without the other royals to comfort him. I really hope the Queen’s death will help them heal their rifts.”
Now William and Harry are believed to be back in their neighbouring homes at Windsor and yet there has been little communication between them.
How the royals deal with Harry, Meghan and their children will be a key theme of the post-Elizabeth era - one of the family dramas that have made the House of Windsor an enduring object of global fascination.
The new King Charles signalled a desire for a thaw in relations during his first speech as sovereign on Friday.
"I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas," he said.
This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get both pullouts.
