Prince Harry has paid tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, by secretly arranging for flowers to be placed at her grave at Windsor Castle on what would have been her 100th birthday. According to People magazine, the Duke of Sussex, 41, sent flowers to her final resting place in St George's Chapel while he skipped the Buckingham Palace reception attended by his family on April 21.
Previous Tributes and Family Estrangement
Last year, Montecito-based Harry, who remains estranged from his father, King Charles, and brother, the Prince of Wales, honoured his late grandfather, Prince Philip, with the help of a UK-based friend. On the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, Harry asked a friend to place a letter and wreath on the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire in memory of the former Duke of Edinburgh. In his note, former soldier Harry recalled his grandfather serving in the Pacific campaign, noting that 'this anniversary carries an added layer of meaning'.
Since quitting the Royal Family and relocating stateside with his wife, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has returned to Queen Elizabeth's burial site on two occasions, including the one-year anniversary of her death on September 8, 2023. He also paid his respects to the late monarch in 2025, when he returned to the UK for the WellChild awards. That trip was significant as the Duke came face to face with his father, King Charles, for the first time in over a year. The King had a private tea with Harry at Clarence House, seen as a first step towards reconciliation.
Centenary Celebrations at Buckingham Palace
One year later, Prince Harry remained absent from the late Queen's centenary celebrations, as King Charles led a 'slimmed down monarchy' across the pond. Charles was accompanied by a full turnout of working royals at the Buckingham Palace reception in honour of what would have been his late mother's 100th birthday. Joining the King and Queen were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and even the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra – the last two aged 90 and 89 respectively.
The reception was a celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy, as guests from 45 of the patronages she supported were also present. The historic Marble Hall at Buckingham Palace – one of the only public areas still open during the final stages of its refurbishment – had been decorated to look like a street party, with bunting hanging from the ceiling and paintings. It was previously used for last year's VJ Day commemorations and was made by household staff from old pieces of historic curtains and drapes. Guests were treated to champagne and a special QEII 'tribute' cocktail made from her favourite Dubonnet. The traditional gin had been left out because it was a 'daytime' event and replaced with lemon juice, rosemary and tonic.
Sussexes' Australian Tour and Recent Ventures
Meanwhile, Prince Harry recently returned to Montecito after he and Meghan toured Australia during a four-day visit that drew large crowds of supporters – as well as fierce criticism. The Sussexes were accused of using their royal links to cash in on Australia as they carried out a mix of charity and business engagements. While in Sydney, Meghan was the headlining guest at a 'women-only' retreat that some fans paid as much as £1,700 to attend. During a VIP meet-and-greet, Meghan asked if it was finally time to invest in herself after spending 'all her life investing in women'. She also told the crowd her experience in the public eye had been 'very difficult' but that people's criticism of her had to do with their own 'projections'. She said the last decade, during which she celebrated happy moments such as her wedding and the birth of her two children, had been tainted by vicious attacks. Meghan said motherhood had taught her to have perspective and patience, something she needed, 'given what our life is like'. It is understood that organisers of the event had paid £120,000 for Meghan's appearance. Critics suggested Harry and Meghan were using Australia 'like an ATM' and that the 'quasi royal tour' was an extensive exercise in 'self promotion'.
New Candle Line and Mother's Day Collection
Since returning to Los Angeles, Meghan has announced the launch of two new candles inspired by the couple's children – with the Duchess of Sussex using their royal links to promote the 'Mother's Day Edit'. The marketing materials for the two candles mention Archie and Lilibet's royal titles, as Meghan unveiled Signature Candle No. 506, named after her son's birthdate of May 6, and Signature Candle No. 604, an homage to Princess Lilibet's June 4 birthday. In 2024, it was revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan adopted the Sussex title as a surname for their children, making Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, known as Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex, rather than Mountbatten-Windsor. It is thought to be in keeping with the way Harry was known as Captain Wales while in the army.
Ahead of the release on April 22, the Mother's Day collection has been sent out to select American influencers. One influencer shared a photo of the £115 box from As Ever, including gourmet chocolates, on Instagram Stories and tagged Meghan's lifestyle brand. The box included a handwritten letter from Meghan, who said 'I developed the scents over the last year so that every note melded together to take me right back to a special memory with them'. 'I can light the candle, close my eyes and I'm right there,' Meghan's message read. 'The memorable moments of motherhood.' The box also included chocolates from Los Angeles brand Compartés, as Meghan wrote 'Enjoy every bite'. 'Thank you for welcoming As Ever into your home, and for allowing us to not just be a part of your moments, but to be part of your memories,' the letter read.
The scented candle for Prince Archie features 'ginger, neroli, and cashmere' in what appears to be a nod to her six-year-old son's red hair, and promises to bring a 'warm, comforting scent' for a 'soft familiar ease into the room'. Meanwhile, the candle inspired by her daughter Lilibet, four, is made with 'amber, water lily and santal', encompassing a 'light, floral scent' which will bring 'a sense of brightness and openness to the home'. The launch comes in the aftermath of Harry and Meghan's 'quasi-royal' tour of Australia, which Meghan posted about on Instagram this weekend. Directing followers to read more about the trip on their site, Sussex.com, the Duchess shared a montage of their four-day trip Down Under. 'Australia, you have our hearts,' she added. Set to Love Is In The Air by Aussie singer John Paul Young, the post featured clips from official visits as well as snippets of more intimate moments, including a shot of Harry tucking into his dinner and Meghan touching up her make-up.
