Prince Harry was told of the Queen's death just five minutes before the Palace's official announcement, it is claimed. The Duke of Sussex was on board a flight to Aberdeen when he received the heartbreaking phone call from his father.
By the time he arrived in Scotland, a statement on Her Majesty's death had already been released. According to the Mirror, a spokesperson for King Charles said: 'The public was only informed after every family member had been informed.'
It is understood that Harry was told to make his way to Balmoral after Prince William had already been called. The royal's staff had difficulty arranging a plane so he could be at the Queen's side, whereas William joined Prince Andrew and Prince Edward to fly out of RAF Northolt.
The heir to the throne landed in Aberdeen at 3.50pm, while Harry took off from Luton airport at 5.35pm. The monarch's death was officially announced at 6.30pm, with the Duke of Sussex's plane landing in Aberdeen at 6.46pm.
Harry was told the Queen had died at 6.25pm and Charles was "adamant" that the official statement was not released until members of the family had been informed, reports the Telegraph. This was reportedly an hour after Prime Minister Liz Truss was told of the Queen's death.
A royal source told the Telegraph: "Everybody was trying to get where they needed to be. That was the focus.
“And the King was adamant that the official statement must not be released until all members of the family had been informed. That was a father talking because he cares.”
Prince Harry reportedly did not eat dinner with his dad King Charles and brother Prince William at Balmoral on the night the Queen died. After it was announced the monarch had passed away, the royals stayed the night at Balmoral before Charles, William - the new Prince of Wales - and Harry all made their separate ways back to London.
Writing in the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Kay said that despite all being on the Highlands estate together, sources claimed the King went to his Birkhall home, also on the estate with William - but Harry stayed at Balmoral Castle with his other relatives.
He quoted a source as saying: "Two dinners were being hosted on the royal estate that night and there was a clear divide: One was for the new king and his heir, the other was for the rest of the family."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were previously asked to attend a state reception for world leaders at Buckingham Palace yesterday, however the invitation was later revoked after it emerged it had been sent in error. He was also denied the right to wear the royal ER insignia on his shoulder during the Queen's vigil on Saturday.
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