The history-making monarch died at her summer retreat of Balmoral Castle one year ago on Sept. 8, 2022. While members of the royal family rushed to be by Queen Elizabeth's side after doctors announced they were "concerned" for her health, the soon-to-be Princess of Wales stayed home.
There was likely a practical reason for the decision: it was the first day of school for William and Kate's three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The start of the new term was especially momentous for the young royals as they enroll as first-time pupils at Lambrook School following the family's move from London to Windsor that summer.
While the now-King Charles and Princess Anne were already in Scotland, Prince William traveled to Balmoral by plane with Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Edward's wife Sophie.
Prince Harry recounted the day that his grandmother died in the epilogue of his memoir, Spare, released in January. Despite moving to California in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were in the U.K. with a scheduled charity event appearance in London when he got a called from his father saying "Granny's health had taken a turn."
Harry wrote, "She was up at Balmoral, of course. Those beautiful, melancholy late-summer days. He hung up—he had many other calls to make — and I immediately texted Willy to ask whether he and Kate were flying up. If so, when? And how? No response. Meg and I looked at flight options."
"Then another call came from Pa," the Duke of Sussex continued. "He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn't want...her. He started to lay out his reason, which was nonsensical, and disrespectful, and I wasn't having it. Don't ever speak about my wife that way."
"He stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn't want a lot of people around. No other wives were coming, Kate wasn't coming, he said, therefore Meg shouldn't," the text continued. "Then that's all you needed to say."
Prince Harry chartered a flight by himself, and news of Queen Elizabeth's death broke publicly while he was in the air.
He was greeted at Balmoral by his aunt Princess Anne and went to Queen Elizabeth's bedroom to see her.
On the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's death, Prince William and Princess Kate traveled to Wales for a service honoring the late monarch at the ancient St. Davids Cathedral.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry traveled from his home in California to the U.K. for a charity event appearance on Thursday night. On the anniversary of his grandmother's death, he visited her burial site at Windsor Castle.
King Charles and Queen Camilla marked his Accession Day in Scotland, including going to a church service.
