Why Prince Harry, Meghan Will Fly Back To California 'Almost Immediately' After Queen's Funeral: Report

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to leave the U.K. and return to California shortly after attending Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral and committal service Monday because they miss their children "like crazy," a report says.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been away from their son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 1, for over two weeks now, having been in Europe since early September. An unnamed source told Us Weekly that Prince Harry and Markle are anxious to see their kids.

"Meghan and Harry are preparing to return to Montecito almost immediately after the funeral, where they'll be reunited with Archie and Lilibet after being separated for over two weeks," the insider said, adding that it's "the longest amount of time they've been apart from their children."

The source added, "They've missed the kids like crazy and have been FaceTiming them every day, but can't wait to see and hold them again after a poignant few weeks."

Prince Harry and Markle embarked on their trip to Europe on Sept. 4 to attend a series of charity events. The couple's original plan was to spend less than a week in the U.K. and Germany, but they extended their stay in the prince's home country after Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on Sept. 8.

Prince Harry rushed to the Queen's Scottish estate Balmoral to be by his grandmother's side that day, but he did not arrive in time to bid her goodbye before she passed away.

Reports claimed that Prince Harry was the "last to know" about the Queen's death and was informed only five minutes before the news was announced on Sept. 8. His father King Charles III allegedly called Prince Harry when he was on his way to Scotland, and by the time he landed, Buckingham Palace had informed the public of Queen Elizabeth's death.

A spokesperson for King Charles seemingly addressed the reports in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying: "The public was only informed after every family member had been informed."

The Queen's death reunited Prince Harry and Prince William, who had been estranged for years since the Duke of Sussex and Markle decided to step back from royal duties.

The Prince of Wales invited his younger brother and sister-in-law to join him and his wife, Kate Middleton, in greeting mourners outside Windsor Castle two days after Queen Elizabeth passed away.

Royal fans were happy to see the four royals together again. It was the first time the one-time "Fab Four" had been photographed together since 2020.

However, inviting Prince Harry and Markle was reportedly not an "easy" decision to make for the new heir to the British throne.

"In the end, [William] elected to [invite them] because it was agreed amongst all of them that this very much the appropriate thing to do," an unnamed source told Us Weekly.

Prince William has continued to reach out to his younger brother. He was spotted waving to Prince Harry and Markle, inviting them to sit beside him and his family during the committal service for the Queen at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Monday afternoon.

Royal expert Myko Clelland told Us Weekly that this has been a time for the royal family to mend their fractured relationships.

"We've seen the brothers out together, and we've seen them sitting near each other at occasions. And I'm sure they must have talked behind closed doors as well," she noted, explaining that the family extended "a number of olive branches" to Harry in the days following the Queen's death. "I think now is the time grief brings families together, and we've seen this coming together. So, if it's going to happen, I think now is the best possible chance."