Prince Harry Recalls Taking Meghan Markle to Princess Diana’s Grave on the Anniversary of Her Death

In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry provided an intimate glimpse into his personal life, including the poignant experience of taking his wife, Meghan Markle, to visit the grave of his late mother, Princess Diana. The year 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of Diana’s tragic death in a car accident in Paris at the age of 36.

Prince Harry recounted the emotional journey of bringing Meghan to his mother’s final resting place, located on an island within the ornamental lake known as The Round Oval, situated in the Pleasure Garden of Althorp Park, the Spencer family’s ancestral home in Northamptonshire, England. Diana’s gravesite is off-limits to the public, adding to the private and solemn nature of the visit.

With the assistance of his uncle Charles Spencer, who provided a “little shove” through the stubborn mud, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were able to row out on a boat to the island where Diana is buried. This intimate moment allowed Prince Harry to share a deeply personal connection with his late mother while introducing her to his wife, Meghan.

The passage from Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” provides an insightful and emotional account of his visit to his mother Princess Diana’s grave with his wife Meghan Markle. It highlights the significance of the occasion, being the 25th anniversary of Diana’s passing and Meghan’s first time visiting the grave.

Harry describes the solemn moment of placing flowers on the grave, speaking to his mother in his mind, and seeking guidance and clarity. He then gives Meghan a private moment, during which she kneels and prays for clarity and guidance as well.

The passage also mentions that this visit took place during a trip to Europe from their California home, where they had relocated after stepping back as senior royals. It notes that this trip occurred around the time of the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death and shortly before Queen Elizabeth II’s passing at Balmoral Castle.

Overall, the passage offers an intimate glimpse into Harry and Meghan’s personal connection to Princess Diana’s legacy and their shared desire for guidance during a significant period in their lives.

The recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II has brought renewed attention to the British royal family, particularly Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. At 38 and 42 years old respectively, the couple stayed in the UK until the late monarch’s funeral before returning to their home in Montecito, reuniting with their son Archie, now 4, and daughter Lilibet, aged 2, whose name honors the Queen’s childhood nickname.

In a conversation with PEOPLE magazine surrounding the release of his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry shed light on his motivations for writing the book. He expressed a desire to share his story in his own words, without dictating how others, including his family, should interpret it. “I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it and that includes my family. This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey. It’s a raw account of my life — the good, the bad and everything in between,” Prince Harry told PEOPLE.

The memoir’s release has reignited discussions about the royal family’s dynamics, particularly the relationship between Prince Harry, his brother Prince William, and their late mother, Princess Diana, who was a central figure in their upbringing and the public’s fascination with the monarchy.

The passage from Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” provides an insightful and heartwarming account of how he and Meghan Markle initially connected. It reveals that their serendipitous encounter occurred on a significant date – Princess Diana’s birthday, July 1, 2016. Harry was captivated by Meghan’s beauty when he stumbled upon her playful selfie on Instagram, leading him to reach out to a mutual friend for her contact information.

The passage informatively details how their conversation unfolded, with Meghan messaging Harry first on the social media platform. They immediately bonded over their shared love for Africa, as Harry’s feed was filled with photos from the continent. Their conversation transitioned to text messaging, where they engaged in a “marathon” exchange late into the night, with Harry admitting to “texting like a teenager” the following day.

Notably, Harry expresses his awe at the uncanny timing of their initial connection, occurring on his late mother’s 55th birthday. This coincidence added a poignant and surreal dimension to their burgeoning relationship, underscoring the significance of the date and potentially hinting at a deeper connection to Princess Diana’s legacy.

In his memoir, the Duke of Sussex revealed another intriguing royal birthday coincidence. He wrote about how King Charles was charmed upon discovering that Meghan shared the same birthday, August 4th, as his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This realization occurred during a visit by Harry and Meghan to Charles’ residence at the Castle of Mey in Scotland, a few months after their royal wedding in the summer of 2018.

Harry recounted, “The bond between Meg and Pa, always strong, grew even stronger during that weekend. One night, over pre-dinner cocktails, with Fred Astaire playing in the background, it emerged that Meg shared a birthdate with Pa’s favorite person: Gan-Gan.” He further added, “‘Amazing,’ Pa said with a smile,” describing Charles’ delighted reaction to the coincidence.

This anecdote sheds light on the strengthening relationship between Meghan and Charles, facilitated by their shared birthday with a significant figure in the royal family.