Prince Harry Marks Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Death Privately In U.K.

Prince Harry may have exited his role as a working royal in January 2020, when he and wife Meghan Markle dropped their bombshell news and moved abroad, but the royal family was still, undeniably, his family.

The second-born son of King Charles III reportedly commemorated the one-year anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, with a private visit to her burial site on Friday.

While in the U.K. for a Thursday evening engagement at the WellChild Awards in London, Harry took Friday to visit King George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, where his grandmother is interred alongside her husband Prince Philip, sister Princess Margaret, and parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

The late queen died September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Charles, who became king when she died, broke with tradition and released a statement on Friday mourning the loss of his mother.

“In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,” read the statement in full. “I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”

Charles and Queen Camilla attended a service Friday morning at the same church the Queen visited regularly while in Balmoral, with plans to follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps and spend Ascension Day at Sandringham, as she did every year. Her father, King George VI, died at that royal residence. Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral.

At Thursday’s WellChild Awards, Harry spoke about his grandmother on stage. He had been set to present at the 2022 event as well, but had to cancel after receiving reports of the Queen’s ill health.

“As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away,” he said onstage. “As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her. And that’s precisely why I know, exactly one year on, she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”

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