Prince Harry wants to visit UK for Christmas so Queen can finally meet Lilibet after baby named after her, report claims
PRINCE Harry wants to visit the UK this Christmas – so the Queen can finally meet baby Lilibet, according to a new report.
The Duke of Sussex is understood to be feeling “helpless” at his LA home after his grandmother was admitted to hospital last week.
And an unsubstantiated source says he is now preparing to return to the UK with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet within the coming weeks.
The Queen spent a night in hospital following ‘preliminary tests’. She was later discharged in “good spirits”.
However, she last night cancelled a planned appearance at the COP26 summit on doctors’ orders.
She also backed out of a planned trip to Northern Ireland – her first cancelled royal duty in 15 years.
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The source told US Weekly that Harry went into “panic mode” and has been “checking in non-stop”.
They alleged he “feels guilty about not saying goodbye” in person to Prince Philip, who died in April.
“He would never forgive himself if the same thing happened with his beloved grandmother,” the source said.
As a result, he’s reportedly planning to head home within weeks so his daughter can meet her namesake.
The source claimed Harry is “hoping to go back home for Christmas with Meghan, if not before, so that [the Queen] can finally get to meet Lilibet and see Archie again.”
Her Majesty is known to hold Zoom calls with the US-based family – and even sent Archie a waffle-maker for Christmas.
However, she has not yet met baby Lilibet, who was born in June, in person.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
The tot was given the Queen’s family nickname as her moniker – sparking a fierce row over whether the royal had been told of the decision in advance of the baby’s birth.
And despite the lifting of the American travel ban, the Sussexes have not yet flown back to the UK to introduce the baby to the family.
It was reported earlier this year that the Queen has felt great “sadness” that she so rarely sees her great-grandchildren.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said before Lilibet’s birth: “She has barely seen Archie since he was born, a source of sadness for her.”
That may soon change. According to the source, Harry’s concern for the monarch may prompt a visit ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year.
“He felt helpless being 5,000 miles away in Montecito, and has been checking in non-stop with her,” they said.
The monarch had 295 engagements during 2019 – and has pursued a punishing schedule following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, carrying out 120 official appointments in 194 days.
Her hospitalisation has sparked fears that she’s simply “knackered” and needs to take a break.
QUEEN’S ‘SADNESS’
However, experts say she will likely find the change of pace difficult.
Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “She knows people want to see her, she knows certain events are particularly important, and if she can possibly make it in person, she will.
“It’s more or less inevitable that there’ll be a very, very careful rethink now.
“However, she truly hates letting anyone down.”
The Queen herself shot down her doubters last week by refusing an Oldie of the Year award.
She said she “doesn’t meet the relevant criteria”.
She cheekily added: “You are as old as you feel.”