The passing of the beloved Queen and her subsequent official funeral were meticulously planned for decades. These plans, known as ‘Operation London Bridge’, detailed every eventuality following her death.

Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had decided to step back from royal duties in early 2020, they had considered being present when the Queen’s final moments arrived.

According to a royal insider book, both Harry and Meghan intended to be by the Queen’s side in her final moments.

But when the unexpected news of the Queen’s passing reached us on September 8, 2022, only Harry managed to travel to Scotland’s Balmoral Castle to join his family.

Even though Harry and Meghan were in the UK for charitable occasions at the time, Meghan did not accompany Harry to Balmoral, despite initial intentions for them to travel together.

This change in plan raised questions. A statement released by the Sussexes’ representative indicated that Meghan’s absence was due to a sudden ‘alteration of plans’.

Speculations arose suggesting that then-Prince Charles requested Meghan remain behind to allow Harry some private moments with the Queen. It was expected that Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, would make a similar decision.

However, recent revelations from a biography on King Charles paint a different picture, indicating that while Kate indeed remained in England, it was by her own choice rather than a request.

Based on the insights of Robert Hardman in his book Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, Kate wanted to stay in England to support her children as they began a new school phase.

Kate decided to stay and be there for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis on their first day at Lambrook School. Her choice was later cited as an explanation, which conveniently helped soothe any tension Harry might have felt when he was informed Meghan couldn’t travel to Balmoral.

It turns out Charles believed that the Queen had a few more days left, not merely hours, and wished to prioritize familial farewells over discord.

The goal, as revealed in a 2024 publication, was to ensure the focus remained on the Queen’s final moments rather than any familial disagreements.

King Charles personally reached out to both of his sons, urging them to make haste to Scotland and bid their farewells.

Within his memoir titled Spare, Harry mentions how the news of Kate’s decision to stay behind was surprisingly reassuring for him.