The Duke of Sussex has praised his grandmother, the Queen, for her dedication to duty, excellent counsel, and “infectious grin.”
Prince Harry’s first statement since her passing was, “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandfather are again together.”
He expressed appreciation for memories of the Queen meeting her “loving great-grandchildren.”
“We now recognize my father in his new capacity as King Charles III,” he continued.
In a statement published on his Archewell website, Prince Harry referred to the Queen as a “guiding compass.”
“Her steadfast grace and dignity remained constant throughout her whole life, and now constitute her enduring legacy,” he continued.
“Let us echo the words she uttered following the death of her husband, Prince Philip, words that can console us all now: ‘Of course, life comprises of both first and last contacts.'”
He stated that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, who both passed away last year, are now “united in peace.”
Addressing the Queen, he wrote, “Granny, while this ultimate separation gives us enormous pain, I will be eternally grateful for all of our initial encounters.”
Referring to his military experience, he spoke of his “earliest childhood recollections” with the Queen, when he met her for the first time as his Commander-in-Chief.
He then recalled “the first time you met my loving wife” – referring to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex – and stated that he “hugged your beloved great-grandchildren” Archie and Lilibet.
His one-year-old daughter was named after the Queen; her childhood nickname inside the family was Lilibet.
Harry said, “I treasure these days we’ve spent together, as well as the many other memorable occasions in between.
“You are already greatly missed, not only by us but by the entire globe.”
It is believed that his remark was delayed a day and issued on Monday out of respect for the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Harry accompanied his tribute with a photograph of him smiling alongside the Queen at the 2019 wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent.
Princes Harry and William were accompanied by their spouses, Meghan and Catherine, to inspect flowers and notes presented to the Queen at Windsor on Saturday.
Harry and Meghan, who now reside in California, were in the United Kingdom last week, attending Invictus Games events when the Queen passed away.
