Prince Harry was visibly moved on Wednesday as Her Majesty the Queen’s coffin was carried from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, demonstrating how deeply her passing on September 8 has affected him.
The royal family was very close, and a recently discovered photo shows the 11-year-old Prince adoringly holding an umbrella for his grandmother and great-grandmother.
The photo was taken in 1995 while the royal family was spending Christmas at Sandringham. It was probably taken on Christmas Day, when the royals were waiting outside the church for the service to begin.
Harry raised his arm to the sky to make sure the Queen and the Queen Mother could see his clear and blue umbrella. Both of them were dressed in block heels for the occasion, and the latter walked with two walking sticks.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry appeared visibly emotional, and his wife Meghan Markle was there to comfort him by holding his hand.
He walked behind Princess Diana’s casket, just as he did on Wednesday for the Queen, which must have brought back memories of his mother’s funeral.
The father of two celebrated his 38th birthday the following day without his American-born children Archie and Lilibet.
The royal said in a statement posted on Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell website: “In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen – and in mourning her loss – we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. She was globally admired and respected.”
He added: “Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings – from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.”
