Prince Harry and Meghan Markle brought their children, Archie and Lilibet, to visit the final resting place of Princess Diana during their recent trip to the United Kingdom. The visit marked the first time the couple’s two children visited Diana’s grave at Althorp Estate, Northamptonshire, where the princess has been buried since her death in 1997.
The Duchess of Sussex shared a series of photographs on Instagram capturing moments from their “Summer Holiday,” including images of Prince Harry, 41, and seven-year-old Archie walking toward the grave carrying large bouquets of flowers. Lilibet, five, was seen following behind while holding a small handbag and a toy. Another photo showed a close-up of lavender, a flower often associated with the late princess. Diana’s gravesite is located on a private island in Oval Lake, within the estate managed by her brother Charles Spencer. Although the public can visit Althorp, access to Diana’s grave is restricted, with visitors typically only able to view the island from a distance or visit a lakeside memorial.
The Sussex family’s visit coincided with the closure of the estate to the public. Prior to their departure, reports had indicated that Harry planned to visit his mother’s grave with Meghan and their children during the UK trip. Harry was engaged in five days of solo public engagements across London, Birmingham, and Warwickshire during the visit. Various reports indicated tensions within the royal household, including delays in securing a room at Buckingham Palace and safety concerns that limited Meghan and the children’s presence in central London.
The photographs shared by Meghan have drawn criticism from some royal commentators. Robert Jobson, a royal author, described the public sharing of the private moment as "ill thought out" and in poor taste, noting that the images made an intimate family visit appear overly staged. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine and a royal biographer, expressed similar sentiments, suggesting the photos could be upsetting to other members of the royal family.
Additional images from the Sussexes’ holiday showed the family relaxing at their £3.6 million villa near Lisbon, Portugal. Photos included Meghan shopping at a boutique store, Harry playing with Lilibet in a pool, and Archie wearing a pilot’s cap while sitting in the cockpit of a passenger jet. Meghan and the children were notably absent from most public appearances during the trip.
A spokesman for King Charles III confirmed that he and Queen Consort Camilla hosted Harry, Meghan, and their children at Highgrove as part of a "private family occasion," with no official photographs released.
Harry previously shared in his memoir “Spare” that he visited Diana’s grave in 2022 with Meghan, calling that visit a deeply emotional moment as it coincided with the 25th anniversary of her death. He also revealed that in 2017 he and his brother Prince William had visited the site together. The Sussexes’ recent family visit underscores ongoing efforts to honor Princess Diana’s memory while navigating the complexities of their public roles.