Prince Harry claims his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was “bemused” by his two children, Archie and Lilibet, in his autobiography, Spare, on their final meeting
Today marks the fourth birthday of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter, Lilibet, with private festivities likely to be held in her honour.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2018, welcomed their youngest child into the world in on June 4, 2021, two years after the birth of her older brother Archie, who is now six.
Since 2020, the family of four have lived in America, following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back from their senior royal roles.
Just two years after their relocation Stateside, Harry’s grandmother, the longest-serving British monarch, passed away at the age of 96.
Reflecting on his children’s “final visit” to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry suggested she was “bemused” by the youngsters, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
In his explosive autobiography Spare, he discussed her funeral before continuing: “The following morning, Meg and I left for America.
“For days and days we couldn’t stop hugging the children, couldn’t let them out of our sight, though I also couldn’t stop picturing them with granny, the final visit.
“Archie was making deep, chivalrous bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch’s shins.”
Recounting his grandmother’s response, he said she referred to them as the “sweetest children”, while “sounding bemused”.
“She’d expected them to be a bit more… American, I think? Meaning, in her mind, more rambunctious,” he added.
“Now, while overjoyed to be home again, doing drop-offs again, reading Giraffes Can’t Dance again, I couldn’t stop remembering.”
Following the Queen’s passing, her son ascended to the throne as King Charles III, with his wife Camilla taking on the role of Queen Consort.
Reports suggest that the Royal couple have met Archie a handful of times but have only met Lilibet once during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022.
In recent years, Prince Harry and his family have become distant, a fact he confirmed himself in a recent interview.
Speaking to the BBC, the Duke of Sussex expressed a desire for reconciliation, stating: “There’s no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious.”
Harry revealed that his father “won’t speak to him” following a dispute over his security arrangements.
This year, Harry faced defeat in a legal case concerning the downgrading of his personal security level.
Reflecting on the verdict, he shared: “I’m devastated – not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay. Is it a win for them?
“I’m sure there are some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, W.H.O. consider this a huge win.”
Prince Harry also mentioned that he has decided against pursuing further legal action, as the judgement “proven that there was no way to win this through the courts”.
He went on to say the decision also meant that he “can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point”.
