After Being Shunned Once Prince Harry Insists on ‘Face-to-Face’ Meeting With Queen Elizabeth When He Returns to the U.K.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex officially stepped down as senior royals in March 2020. The pair moved to California and haven’t been back to the U.K. since but the Sussexes are expected to make the trip across the pond for some upcoming events. Harry is insisting that when that happens he wants a face-to-face meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. Getting that time with the queen though isn’t easy even if she happens to be your grandmother.

Harry asked to speak with the queen before Megxit but was rejected

Following Meghan and Harry’s initial announcement in January 2020 that they were stepping down, there were reports that the other royals were “blindsided” and only learned about their plan a few minutes before the rest of the world.

ABC News reported that Prince Charles and Prince William were sent a copy of Harry and Meghan’s statement 10 minutes before it was published online. There were also reports that the Duke of Sussex asked for permission to speak to the queen prior to the announcement being posted on social media but his request for a conversation with her was denied.

With no final talk between the prince and his grandmother, Harry went ahead with the announcement anyway and the palace’s statement which followed hinted that not everyone was on board.

“Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” the statement read. “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

When Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to return to U.K.

After having been away from England for so long, it’s believed that Harry and Meghan will be returning to the U.K. for some upcoming key events. Those include Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday in April, Prince Philip’s 100th birthday in June, Trooping the Colour also in June, and the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana on July 1.

“There are lots of family events that the duke and duchess hope they can attend,” a source said, adding, “Of course given the state of the world due to COVID-19, it is still early to be planning travel.”

Harry will demand face-to-face meeting with grandmother this time

Whenever they do return Harry is going to want to speak to his grandmother in person and will demand a meeting with her if he has to, according to one royal author.

Famed royal biographer Andrew Morton, who wrote Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words on Harry’s late mother, said the prince wants to return to Britain and meet with the queen “face to face.”

Morton told The Sun: “Although they will do some of it by Zoom, Harry wants to meet face to face to tie it all up. Things seem to have calmed down. Harry has been in contact with the queen more often than you would think. But certain things you need to be there in person to sort. They will need a few weeks.

“That could be done after April, depending on COVID.”