Harry Reveals Last Words He Whispered to the Queen After Arriving Late To Her Deathbed: 'I Said...'

Even after stepping down from royal duties, Prince Harry continued to hold his grandmother Queen Elizabeth in high regard. Their bond, built on years of shared moments and understanding, remained strong. In his controversial memoir Spare, Harry opened up about one of the most emotional moments of his life—arriving late to bid goodbye to his grandmother. At her deathbed, he took a private moment to whisper his last thoughts to her.

Harry was in Germany, promoting the Invictus Games, when he got the heartbreaking news that the Queen’s health was rapidly declining. He rushed to Scotland as soon as he could, but couldn't make it in time, as reported by The Mirror. He wrote, “I advanced with uncertainty and saw her. I stayed still, watching her carefully for a good while.” As reported by the Daily Mail, he added, “I whispered that I hoped she was happy and that she was with Grandfather now. I said that I admired her for having carried out her duties until the end—the [Platinum] Jubilee, the welcoming of the new Prime Minister.”

After the Palace made its official announcement of the Queen's death, Harry also released a statement about his grandmother's legacy. He wrote, “In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen — and in mourning her loss — we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life.” He added that while saying goodbye filled him with deep sorrow, he’ll always treasure their time together, especially the time when she met his wife and got to hug her great-grandchildren for the first time.

As reported by Us Weekly, in his memoir, Spare, Harry dropped a bombshell about how he found out the news and the events that transpired thereafter. He revealed that his father, King Charles, told him that he didn’t want too many people around the castle as the Queen’s health worsened. Charles suggested that since Kate Middleton wasn’t coming, his wife, Meghan Markle, should also stay at home. She arrived later for the Queen's state funeral.

Throughout her life, the late Queen shared a close relationship with Harry. Unlike William, with whom she had more serious discussions, preparing him for the responsibilities of the monarchy as heir to the thrown, her relationship with Harry had a more relaxed dynamic that brought out both their cheeky sense of humor. In 2016, Harry even persuaded the Queen to join in on a playful video for his Invictus Games, featuring former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.