Prince Harry paid tribute to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II Thursday, which marks the one-year anniversary of her death.
While presenting the Inspirational Child Award at the 2023 WellChild Awards in the UK, the Duke of Sussex said, “As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year, as my grandmother passed away.
“As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her,” Harry, 38, added.
“And that’s precisely why I know, exactly one year on, that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together, continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, were scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards last year when they got the news of the Queen’s Sept. 8 passing. She was 96.
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At the time, the Invictus Games founder rushed to Balmoral in Scotland to be by his grandmother’s side alongside his brother, Prince William.
However, Markle, 42, did not travel with her husband.
The Duchess of Sussex, however, was present at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, which took place on Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.
Markle could be seen wiping tears away from her eyes as the longest-serving monarch’s coffin was moved into a hearse for its final journey to Windsor Castle.
Despite coming together at the time, things have been tense between the ousted couple and the rest of the family since the former announced they were taking a step back from their royal duties in 2020.
At the time, the youngest son of Princess Diana and the “Suits” alum said they wanted to take a “progressive new role” and leave their roles as “senior” royals.
The strain only got worse when Harry and Markle released their bombshell Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan.”
The following month, Harry released his explosive memoir, “Spare,” in which he spoke out against his family.
