The Queen is dead, long live the King.
It’s unlikely that you haven’t heard of Queen Elizabeth’s passing if you haven’t been living under a huge rock for the past week or so.
On Thursday of last week, news of the Queen’s passing first spread. She had been the subject of concerning claims throughout the day that she was sick, and the seriousness of the reports was proven when royals from around the UK and abroad started to go to the monarch’s Balmoral residence.
15 different prime ministers served throughout Queen Elizabeth’s reign, from Winston Churchill to the recently appointed Liz Truss. Her Majesty will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most iconic figures in British history, if not the most.
Last Thursday night, Buckingham Palace issued the following statement:
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
At 6:30 p.m. local time, the flag above Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast, and as is customary, an official notification of the Queen’s passing was displayed on the palace’s gates.
Charles, formerly known as the Prince of Wales, is now the King of the United Kingdom and the 14 Commonwealth states. He is the eldest son and heir of the Queen.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles said in a statement.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
King Charles added: “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Naturally, in the aftermath of the Queen’s passing, the royal family has received nearly unparalleled attention. It’s hardly surprising, given that she reigned for an amazing 70 years.
But not just Queen Elizabeth has been the focus of headlines in media outlets throughout the world.
There is much more to the British royal family than only the king and their kin. It’s a true institution, one whose members are seen and tracked during the course of every day.
Of course, there are situations when such examination goes too far and is, to put it bluntly, excessive. The tragic story of Princess Diana, who was relentlessly pursued by the media to the point that it seriously affected her happiness, is proof of this.
One might say that Meghan Markle almost experienced the same fate before deciding to leave her position as a royal for good and travel to the US.
Even though it had the best of intentions, that action led to some tension between Harry and Meghan and the royal family, but it was nothing in comparison to the consequences from their now-famous sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan and Harry walked into their new house in Montecito, California, in July 2020. Many famous people who wish to escape the bustle of Hollywood call this location home, including Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ellen DeGeneres.
Following their departure from the UK, the pair made every effort to avoid the spotlight. The moment they sat down for their first significant primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey, however, everything changed.
At that point, events dramatically changed.
In their interview with Oprah, Meghan and Harry set the stage for a lot of criticism, but it appears that the most of the harm was already done because they made a number of surprising allegations.
Regarding their then-unborn baby, Archie, Meghan stated that relatives had “concerns over how dark his skin would be when he was born.”
It was undoubtedly one of the interview’s most astonishing disclosures.
“That was relayed to me from Harry. Those were conversations that family had with him,” Meghan said. She declined to reveal who was involved in those conversations, saying, “that would be very damaging to them.”
For her part, Queen Elizabeth confirmed in a statement that the Royal Family would address allegations of racism within Buckingham Palace.’
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the Queen said.
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
It goes without saying that the Oprah interview did a lot of harm to Harry’s relationship with his family, especially with his brother Prince William and his father, now-King Charles.
Since then, relations between the parties have remained cold.
Indeed, according to sources, when Harry arrived at Balmoral on the day of the Queen’s dying, his position as an outsider was only further cemented. He reportedly did not receive an invitation to the Thursday night meal with King Charles and Prince William and instead joined the rest of the family.
But according to the same reports, there is now some optimism that Harry can heal relations with his father and brother.
It has long been rumored that Harry could be able to rejoin the royal family in the case of his grandmother’s passing. It is unclear exactly what kind of role Charles would play going ahead, but he is certain to be aware of the strength of a monarchy free from division, conflict, and in-fighting.
In any case, according to accounts, Harry offered an olive branch to King Charles while honoring his late grandmother.
Despite the fact that Harry and Charles haven’t spoken to one another in a while—some stories even imply that they haven’t spoken at all—it seems like efforts are being made to fix their relationship.
Harry made a pledge to honor his father in a statement posted on the website of the Archewell Foundation, which he and Meghan formed.
“And as it comes to first encounters, we now respect my father in his new capacity as King Charles III,” the message said.
Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they will remain in the UK until after the burial, with preparations for it being well under way.
This might imply that they decide to fly their two kids, Archie and Lilibet, and their maternal grandma Doria Ragland, across the Atlantic.
“The family has already spent more than a week apart, and the state funeral isn’t for another eight days. Meghan and Harry will stick around until the end of the royal mourning period, which ends seven days after the service.”
While Harry is in the UK, the once-unbreakable relationship between the two princes may be healed. According to reports, William and Kate invited Harry and Meghan to greet well-wishers and observe floral tributes left outside Buckingham Palace in remembrance of the Queen.
William is thought to have intended to put any hostilities to rest and present a unified front with his younger brother.
The goal is that the boys may finally bury any leftover bitterness after seeing Princess Diana’s sons strolling side by side once more.
I’m not sure how you feel about it, but I hope that Prince Harry can get back with his family and leave the past behind.
Given that, what do you foresee happening? Should Harry beg his family’s forgiveness, and vice versa? Please share your opinions in the space provided below.
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