Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Visit Queen Elizabeth Before Heading To Netherlands

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a special stop on their way to the Invictus Games.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's spokesperson confirmed earlier this week that Markle will join her husband in the Netherlands for the annual sporting event, which kicks off Saturday.

While on their way over to The Hague for the games, Prince Harry and Markle made a pit stop in the U.K., where they visited his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and father Prince Charles together for the first time since stepping back from their working royal roles and moving to California in 2020.

"We can confirm that they visited the duke’s grandmother, as we previously said he hoped to do," a spokesperson for the duke and duchess said in a statement to Page Six. "They stopped by the U.K. on their way to the Hague to attend the Invictus Games."

Prince Harry, 37, and Markle, 40, visited the Queen and Prince of Wales, 73, at the monarch's home at Windsor Castle just days before her 96th birthday on April 21, according to the report.

However, the royals still haven't met Prince Harry's youngest child, as the couple left their children Archie, 2, and 10-month-old Lilibet at their Montecito, California, mansion.

The royal couple flew to London's Heathrow Airport from California, TMZ first reported. The Sussexes are believed to have stayed overnight at their England residence, Frogmore Cottage, where Prince Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie and her family, husband Jack Brooksbank and son August, currently live.

Prince Harry and Markle flew to the Netherlands following the visit, sources told Page Six.

Last month, Prince Harry faced criticism over his decision not to return to the U.K. to attend the memorial service held in honor of his late grandfather Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on March 29. Among his critics was his wife's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., who claimed it was "like a slap in the face to the Queen and unforgivable."

The Duke of Sussex had announced weeks before the service that he would not attend the event.

"The Duke will not be returning to the UK in late March, but hopes to visit his grandmother as soon as possible," a rep for the Sussexes told Page Six.

The couple's recent U.K. stop was Markle's first time returning to England in more than two years.

Prince Harry had returned to his home country twice over the past two years for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 and for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother Princess Diana in July that year.

Markle was not able to attend Prince Philip's funeral as she had been pregnant with their daughter Lili at the time following a miscarriage in 2020, and doctors advised the duchess against traveling. The former actress also didn't join her husband when he returned to the U.K. for the statue unveiling, which was held just a few weeks after they welcomed Lili on June 4, 2021.

Markle is expected to stay with Prince Harry in the Netherland for the first few days of the Invictus Games, while the duke is expected to be present throughout the duration of the sporting event.

The Invictus Games in The Hague runs from April 16 to April 22.