London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2026

Queen 'understands' why pregnant Meghan can't come to Prince Philip's funeral

Queen 'understands' why pregnant Meghan can't come to Prince Philip's funeral

The Queen ‘understands’ why pregnant Meghan Markle can’t travel to the UK to attend Prince Philip’s funeral, a source has said.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have been in touch with Her Majesty to pass on her condolences after being advised not to travel by her doctor.

Prince Harry has already flown home and is believed to be isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s former home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

A California source told PEOPLE it was ‘always a given’ the duke would return to England following his grandfather’s passing.

They said both Harry and Meghan ‘were in contact with the Queen’, adding: ‘Meghan expressed condolences. The Queen understands why she can’t travel at the moment.’

Harry’s return to the UK comes after a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in which he and Meghan accused an unidentified member of the Royal Family of ‘raising concerns’ about how dark their son Archie’s skin might be when he’s born.

Oprah later clarified these comments did not come from Prince Philip or the Queen.

The duchess also accused ‘the firm’ of refusing to help when she told them she was having suicidal thoughts.

Buckingham Palace said the whole family was ‘saddened’ by the ‘serious allegations’ which will ‘be addressed by the family privately’ – although added that ‘recollections may vary’.

Another source recently claimed Meghan ‘didn’t want to be the centre of attention’ at the funeral amid the family drama.

Meghan Markle’s doctor has advised her not to travel, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on Saturday


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, joined by her mother Doria Ragland, show their new son to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle


They told MailOnline: ‘Meghan said her main concern right now is supporting Harry. She said she left it up to him as to whether or not she would attend the funeral.

‘Meghan said it’s during these times when family should come together, put their differences aside and unite as one. She said this is what Prince Philip would want and that she’s willing to forgive and move forward.’

Tributes have flooded in for the Duke of Edinburgh since he died ‘peacefully’ at Windsor Castle on Friday morning.

The Duke of Cambridge has described him as an ‘extraordinary man part of an extraordinary generation’.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry said he was a man of service and honour – as well as a ‘legend of banter’.

The Queen carried out her first official in-person royal duty after the death of her husband yesterday.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
England Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Sewage Discharges and Water Quality
Victoria Beckham Business Reports First Operating Profit Since Launch
BT Expects £2 Billion From Copper Sales During Full-Fibre Rollout
UK Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise and Avert Strike Action
FCA Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Pressure on Consumer Group in Car Finance Case
Kemi Badenoch Names Andrew Griffith Shadow Chancellor in Conservative Reshuffle
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April
UK Shop-Price Inflation Accelerates to 1.5% in August
Met Office Data Point to Hottest UK Summer on Record
UK Announces Emergency Prison Release Measures and £110 Million Capacity Expansion
UK Launches Expanded Free School Meals and 1,400 Breakfast Clubs
Bank of England Governor Warns G20 of AI-Related Economic and Cyber Risks
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Calls for Greater Public Control of Water, Energy and Transport
UK Gains Full Access to £13 Trillion Trans-Pacific Trade Bloc
UK Long-Term Borrowing Costs Hit 28-Year High as Oil Shock Drives Global Bond Selloff
Royal Mail Keeps First-Class Stamps at £1.80 and Second-Class at 91p
Church of England Prepares Formal Apology Over Historical Forced Adoptions
UK Competition Regulator Caps Veterinary Prescription Fees at £21
UK Aviation Authorities Roll Out Airspace Changes to Reduce Flight Delays
England Makes School Allergy Policies Mandatory Under Benedict’s Law
England and Wales Tighten Child Safeguarding Checks by Removing Supervision Exemption
Cornwall Geothermal Plant Begins Commercial Power and Lithium Operations
UK Inflation Holds Near 2.9% as Energy Costs Remain a Risk
UK Productivity Growth Averages 1.1% Over Two Years, Resolution Foundation Says
England Introduces Nationwide School Smartphone Ban and Uniform Limits
UK Gives Border Officers New Powers to Seize Migrants’ Mobile Phones
Green Party Wins First Westminster By-Election in Gorton and Denton
UK and EU Advance Gibraltar Border Deal Allowing Spanish Guards to Conduct Arrival Checks
Robert Jenrick Joins Reform UK After Losing Conservative Whip
Andy Burnham Faces First Prime Minister’s Questions After Labour Cabinet Overhaul
ScottishPower Recycles Nearly All Materials From Historic Hagshaw Hill Wind Farm
Millions Travel Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for Summer Bank Holiday
Met Office Issues Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Across Southern England
Four Arrested After Bank Holiday Stabbing Violence in Kettering
Scottish Chamber of Commerce Warns Tax and Business Costs Risk Holding Back Scotland
UK Government Launches Youth Employment Drive With Major Retailers
UK and Ukraine Advance AI and Defence Technology Partnership
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Moves to Exclude Serious Offenders From Early Release
Twelve Arrested After A66 Crash Kills Seven, Including Two Police Officers
Bank of England Governor Warns AI Investment Boom Could Trigger Global Market Correction
London Science Museum Ends Long-Running BP Sponsorship
Scottish Homeowners Prepare Valuation Challenges Over Proposed Mansion Tax
UK Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Undercover Police in Spycops Scandal
James Cleverly Leaves Shadow Cabinet to Run for London Mayor
Avanti West Coast Drivers Agree 3.6% Pay Rise, Averting Strike Action
Allianz Explores £5 Billion Takeover of British Roadside Assistance Group AA
UK Government Retreats From Plan to Unfreeze Personal Income Tax Threshold
Northern Ireland Leaders Press UK Government for Sustainable Funding Settlement
UK Health Agency Warns Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Could Worsen
NHS Warns Autism and ADHD Assessment Costs Have Become Unsustainable
×