PRINCE Harry will be returning to the UK next month to reunite with his brother to unveil a statue of Princess Diana, according to an expert.
Now that his daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor has been born, it looks as though the duke will make the move to pay tribute to his beloved mother.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
In the lead-up to the July 1 event, there has been speculation as to whether Harry would attend at all, one of the reasons being him not wanting to leave his heavily pregnant wife.
Meghan Markle gave birth to the couple’s second child, Lili, on Friday 4 June in California.
Roya Nikkhah, the Royal Editor at The Celeb Reportday Times, told Kay Burley on Sky: “I think we can expect to see him travel within the next few weeks and he is due to unveil that statue.”
The Kensington Palace ceremony is a long-term project between the brothers, who fell out over Harry’s decision to quit as a working royal followed by his explosive and very public comments about the family.
It will be the first time since Prince Philip’s funeral that the brothers will be together.
The pair met up away from the cameras before the televised event and were seen talking during the ceremony – sparking hopes of peace between them.
The brothers joined their dad Charles for the first time since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s no-holds-barred Oprah US TV interview in March.
Charles had private talks with his warring sons after the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral — and insiders say it is just what Philip would have wanted.
What we know so far:
- Meghan and Harry have given birth to a baby girl called Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in a touching nod to the Queen
- She was born at hospital in Santa Barbara on Friday morning weighing 7lbs 11oz
- Lili and Meghan are “healthy and well” and “settling in at home”
- Meghan and Harry have asked people to support organisations working for women and girls instead of giving a present
- Lili is now eighth in line to the throne, behind her older brother Archie
- Meghan and Harry kept birth a secret for two DAYS before announcing baby joy to the world
- Queen, William and Kate Middleton say they are ‘delighted’ after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcome baby Lilibet
- The clues Meghan Markle and Prince Harry chose their baby girl’s name Lili years earlier
The decision to use the Queen’s personal nickname as her first name has caused controversy amongst royal fans and experts.
Some royal experts have said the decision to name her after the Queen could act as an olive branch to the Royal Family after recent controversies.
But Roya said that the choice of name is a “sign from the couple that they want people to acknowledge they still have that close bond and a lot of love and respect for the Queen.”
She added it was their way of showing they are “still part of that Windsor dynasty.”
When Kay asked whether she thought the choice of name was to “heal the rift”, she answered: “It definitely feels like a symbolic move, yes.
“I think every explosion that’s come from across the pond in the last six months to a year or so, the Queen has made a series of statements and every time she’s made a statement she has continued to say ‘ Harry, Meghan and Archie remain much-loved members of my family.”
Some royal experts have said the decision to name her after the Queen could act as an olive branch to the Royal Family after recent controversies.
But royal biographer Angela Levin slammed the sentimental move – suggesting it exploits “a very private nickname”.
She told Good Morning Britain: “I don’t think it’s a good idea – I think it’s quite rude to Her Majesty Her Queen.
“It was a very private nickname from her husband who hasn’t been dead for very long.
“Prince Charles would never dream of calling his mother Lilibet.”
The Queen was given her nickname by her grandad King George V, who joked that she couldn’t pronounce her name Elizabeth as a child.
A statement published on their Archewell website said: “On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.
“She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe.
“Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
A spokesman said mum and baby were “healthy and well”.
Meghan chose Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital over the popular Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles.
The spokesman went on: “Lili is now setting in at home.”
They confirmed: “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet.
“Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”
