A new book sheds light on why Kate Middleton did not travel to Scotland with Prince William on the day of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
In an excerpt from royal biographer Robert Hardman’s book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy (releases January 18), d Daily mail on Friday, the author touches on the events surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022.
While William, 41, and other members of the royal family rushed to be by the Queen’s side at Balmoral after doctors said they were “concerned” about her health, the future Princess of Wales, 42, decided to stay at home in Windsor with the couple’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
It was the start of a new term at a new school for the three siblings and Kate decided that one parent should be with the children on such an important day, the excerpt reads.
Queen Elizabeth’s last moments before her death revealed in new book
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis accompanied by their parents Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive for an introduction day at Lambrook School on September 7, 2022.
Jonathan Brady – pool/Getty
In 2022, reports suggested that Meghan Markle had been asked to stay on while Prince Harry traveled to Scotland, with the perception that Kate was also ruled out for similar reasons. But according to royal biographer Hardman, Kate made her own decision.
“It was luck, not judgement, but it was a lot easier to tell Harry he was coming alone,” a royal aide says in the new book.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022. Martin Meissner/AP/Shutterstock
Harry recounted the day his grandmother died in his memoirs, Spare, published last January. Harry and Meghan, who live in California, were in the UK for a scheduled charity event in London when their father called to say “grandmother’s health has deteriorated”.
Harry wrote: “She was up at Balmoral, of course. Those beautiful, melancholy late summer days. He hung up – he had many more calls – and I immediately texted Willy to ask if he and Kate were going to fly. If so , when? And how? No answer. Meg and I were looking at the flight options.”
“Then another call came in from Dad,” the Duke of Sussex continued. “He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn’t want…her. He began to make his case, which was pointless and disrespectful, and I had none. Don’t ever speak of my wife that way.”
“He stuttered, apologetically, saying he just didn’t want a lot of people around. No other wives were coming, Kate wasn’t coming, he said, so Meg shouldn’t,” the text continued. “Then that’s all you had to say.”
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King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022 Andy Stenning – WPA Pool/Getty
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Prince Harry chartered the flight himself, and the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death resonated with the public while he was in the air.
According to Daily mailexcerpt from The making of a kinga member of the palace staff says that Charles was urgently trying to get in touch with Harry.
“There were repeated attempts to reach him but none of the calls went through as Harry was in the air,” the official said.
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Source: HIS Education