Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex visited Queen Elizabeth II for the first time in two years during a stop in the U.K. Thursday, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed to USA TODAY.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to Harry’s grandmother at Windsor Castle while on their way to The Hague, Netherlands, for the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games are an international sports competition founded by Harry for injured veterans and service members.
For the Duchess of Sussex, Thursday’s visit marks her first time in the U.K. since March 2020, according to People and BBC, while Prince Harry was last seen in the U.K. in July 2021 for the unveiling of a statue of his mother Princess Diana at Kensington Palace. Previously, the Duke of Sussex traveled to the U.K. in April 2021 for the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip.
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This year’s Invictus Games were originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but the competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Harry and Meghan were expected to attend.
Speaking in a personal video message at the time, Harry said the decision to postpone was “incredibly difficult” and apologized to the athletes for not being able to find an alternative. He said at least they would have another year to “get even fitter than you already are” for their competitions.
“This decision was the most sensible and the safest option for all of you, for your families, and everybody else involved in these games,” Harry said in the video, acknowledging his disappointment.
More: Queen Elizabeth reflects on coronavirus; Prince Harry says Invictus Games postponed to 2021
Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California with their children, 2-year-old Archie Harrison and 10-month-old Lilibet Diana. In March 2021, they told Oprah Winfrey in a TV interview that they did so because they were fed up with racism in the British media and in the royal family.
Meghan, who is biracial, said in the tell-all interview that someone in the royal family, who was neither the queen nor Prince Philip, raised concerns about “how dark” Archie’s skin might be when he was born. Harry said he wanted to protect Meghan, who became suicidal from the pressure of royal life.
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Contributing: Leora Arnowitz, Maria Puente, Hannah Yasharoff
