The 'dramatic lengths' officials went to to ensure Prince Harry knew Prince Philip had died - revealed
A new report has revealed officials went to "dramatic lengths" to tell Prince Harry that his grandfather had died, before the news broke.
- With Prince Harry living in Santa Barbara, a "chain of calls" ensued to ensure the Duke knew about his grandfather's death.
- It was the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office that eventually delivered the message.
- It follows royal news that the Queen 'extends an olive branch' to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid royal rift
Officials went to "dramatic lengths" to ensure Prince Harry was made aware of Prince Philip's death before the news was released to the rest of the world.
With Prince Harry settled into his new life in America, the chain of communication to get the message to him was made more difficult by the time difference.
The Duke of Edinburgh passed away on the morning of April 9, which was 3am in Santa Barbara—meaning Harry was fast asleep.
Now the Sun on Sunday has reported the extraordinary lengths palace officials went to to ensure the message was delivered.
They claim a call was made from the US Embassy to Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office at 2.30am local time. A policeman was then sent to the Sussex household to tell Harry to "check his phone".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdJkO3PLZrs
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Days after learning about his tragic passing, Prince Harry paid tribute to his grandfather as "master of the barbecue" in a heartfelt statement.
"My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next," he said.
"He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end.
"He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'
"So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered—by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."
Caitlin is a Junior News Editor for Goodto.com, covering all things royal, celeb, lifestyle, food, and family. Having set her sights on becoming a magazine journalist when she was a child, Caitlin took on work experience stints at local papers and titles such as Cosmopolitan, Now, Reveal and Take a Break while studying for her Multimedia Journalism degree and has interviews with celebs, reality stars and the Archbishop of Canterbury under her belt (of course, she couldn't resist asking him about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry).
-
Cosatto Wow 3 hands-on review: practical, beautiful and comfortable - wow!
A versatile travel system with a newborn carrycot, upright pushchair seat and a compatible car seat - everything you need in one stylish package
By Heidi Scrimgeour Published
-
14 of the best pushchairs to buy in 2024: buggies and strollers for growing toddlers reviewed
We asked a panel of parents to put the latest pushchairs to the test - here's what they thought
By Heidi Scrimgeour Published