Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: News, The Queen, Royal Family, Prince Harry
Lucy Devine
Prince Harry appeared to have been consoled by airport staff on Friday morning as he returned to London from Balmoral following the death of the Queen. You can see the footage below:
The Duke of Sussex was pictured boarding a British Airways flight at Aberdeen International Airport as he made his journey back to London.
In photos, it appears Harry is being consoled by one member of staff in a high-vis jacket. At one point, he is seen placing his hand on her shoulder as they walked towards the aircraft.
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Harry raced to Balmoral on Thursday, arriving at the royal residence in the early evening. It is reported that the Duke didn't arrive until after Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen had passed away, having travelled separately from other members of the family.
King Charles and the The Queen Consort, as well as Princess Anne, were also at Balmoral with the Queen.
Meanwhile, Prince William arrived with Prince Andrew, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wessex, on Thursday afternoon.
Taking to Twitter hours after Her Majesty’s death was confirmed, Chris Ship, ITV’s Royal Editor, tweeted: “Very sad for Prince Harry that - despite being in the UK - he didn’t get to see his grandmother, The Queen, before she passed away.”
Ship added: “They were very close and he spoke to her often despite his decision to leave the Royal Family.”
Harry is understood to be the first member of the Royal Family to leave Balmoral following the news. King Charles and the Queen Consort have now also left, and were spotted on their way to Aberdeen International Airport earlier today, before being pictured boarding a flight.
It is not currently clear which other members of the family are still at Balmoral.
News of Her Majesty's passing was confirmed by Buckingham Palace, which issued a statement on Thursday evening.
The statement announced that the 96-year-old monarch had died 'peacefully' at Balmoral in Scotland.
"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," it read.
"The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
The Queen's death marks a monumental shift in British history and the end of a 70-year reign.
Having ascended to the throne in 1952 aged just 27, she was the longest reigning British monarch, as well as the longest-serving female head of state ever.
Her death marks a new reign of King Charles III.