Prince Harry‘s 10-day quarantine period in the UK will prevent him from attending any royal family gatherings outside of Prince Philip‘s official funeral ceremony on Saturday.
After landing in the UK earlier this month, Prince Harry traveled to Frogmore Cottage from London Heathrow airport and began a quarantine period of 10 days, as required under coronavirus regulations.
Speaking on a podcast, royal author Victoria Murphy said there had been lots of speculation about whether the royal family will have informal gatherings before and after the funeral and whether they will include Prince Harry.
The UK’s current rules on coronavirus only allow up to six people, or two households, to meet together — even outdoors — except in certain circumstances such as funerals where the limit increases to 30 people.
This means it is unlikely that the family will be holding additional gatherings outside of the funeral.
Murphy said that people could “certainly” not expect to see “evidence of anything happening” since it would not be permitted under the UK’s regulations.
She said people should, therefore, “presume it isn’t’ happening.”
Prince Harry’s quarantine period, which will continue even after the funeral, will also hinder any hopes of him being included in potential gatherings.
Murphy revealed: “There has been speculation that they might get together before or after the funeral. But, of course, because of Covid they shouldn’t really. Gatherings of that size are not allowed other than for a funeral. I think even outside; you’re still limited to two households and six people unless it’s for specific things.”
The royal expert went on to explain: “Also, you have this situation with Harry, where he is supposed to be quarantining other than when he’s at the funeral. He has flown over here and he is allowed to, on compassionate grounds, attend the funeral service. But he is supposed to be quarantining outside of that. So he shouldn’t be spending time with anyone.”
He will attend the Duke of Edinburgh‘s funeral on Saturday, breaking away from quarantine on “compassionate grounds.”
The Duke of Sussex will leave Frogmore Cottage for the day, where he is currently reported to be isolating.
Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, and their first child, August, are believed to be living in another part of the property.
Prince Harry has reportedly met their new baby, August, born in February, who shares a middle name with the late Duke of Edinburgh.
August Philip Hawke Brooksbank is the ninth great-grandchild of the Queen. Another royal insider explained that the Duke of Sussex is worried about Meghan Markle, who is over six months pregnant and will not stay in England to suffer any further humiliation.
Prince Harry’s pal explained: “He actually speaks to Meghan a few times a day because he worries [about] leaving her when she’s so far along in her pregnancy.”
According to royal expert Ingrid Seward, Prince Harry has cooked up the drastic plan to dash out of England and return to California to be with his wife and son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
It is believed that he will fly to his spouse and son as soon as the funeral is over or the day after.
Speaking to US Weekly, Seward said: “I think for the period that Harry is here, they will very much want to put their differences behind them. I think Harry will very much want to get back to Meghan as soon as the funeral is over.”
She added: “He will probably return to California maybe the next day or maybe later on Saturday. He won’t have a great deal of time to be in a potentially embarrassing situation with his family.”
Fans are still hoping Prince Harry will find a way to truly make peace with the rest of the royal family.
