Prince William Invited Harry and Meghan to Join Him and Kate Outside Castle in Major Show of Unity

Mar. 15, 2025

In a surprise moment on Saturday,Prince HarryandMeghan MarklejoinedPrince WilliamandKate Middletonfor a walkaround at Windsor Castle following the death of William and Harry’s grandmother,Queen Elizabeth.

Dressed in black, the foursome were seen greeting onlookers and emotionally taking in the flowers and other memorial items left for the late monarch, whodied on Thursday at age 96.

Kensington Palace says William, 40, invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and Kate, 40, who was recentlynamed Princess of Walesalongside her husband’s newPrince of Wales title.

Another source adds that security was not expecting both couples at the walkabout.

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Prince Williamthought the walkabout to greet the crowds “was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family,” a royal source tells PEOPLE.

From left: Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.James Whatling / MEGA

A palace insider tells PEOPLE: “It’s such an extraordinary historical moment and also a deeply personal one for the family that you’d hope and think that all members of the family would unite and support [the King] especially. And perhaps some of those wounds can be healed in the process.”

It was the second outing for William on Saturday. Earlier in the day, he witnessedthe solemn historicalmoment that saw his fatherKing Charles IIIofficially proclaimed monarch at St. James’s Palace in London.

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The reunion among William, Kate, Harry and Meghan is poignant, as relations have been strained between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and members of the royal family in recent years, including an ongoing estrangement from William and Kate.

Before the Queen’s death — which occurred while the U.S.-based Harry, 37, and Meghan, 41, were already in the U.K. for charity events — the couple were last in the nation in June to help celebrateQueen Elizabeth’sPlatinum Jubilee, but there wasno public interactionbetween the couple and William, Kate and the rest of Harry’s immediate family members.

They did, however, privately introduce Charles to his granddaughterLilibet, 1, for the first time, which also gave him the chance to see his 3-year-old grandsonArchie, PEOPLE learned at the time.

“It was a fantastic visit. The prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time,“a royal source said, adding that it was “wonderful” to have Harry and Meghan back in Britain.

King Charles III.VICTORIA JONES/POOL/AFP via Getty

Ina historic first speechsince ascending to the British throne, King Charles, 73, on Friday expressed his “profound sorrow” and gave an emotional tribute to his mother, the lateQueen Elizabeth.

The new King also acknowledged the “personal grief that all my family are feeling” as they join their country inmourning the death of a monarchwho was also a mother and grandmother to his sons,Prince Williamand Harry.

“This is a time of change for my family,” Charles continued in his inaugural address to the kingdom, in which he named William and Kate as Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time.

King Charles also acknowledged his younger son, the Duke of Sussex, who is now fifth in line to the throne. Harry’s children with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet, are now sixth and seventh in line, respectively.

“I want also toexpress my love for Harry and Meghanas they continue to build their lives overseas,” the King said.

William said in anofficial statementreleased Saturday, “On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign.”

“I, however, have lost a grandmother,” he continued, reflecting on what the Queen meant to his family. “And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. Mythree children havegot to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.”

Hewent on to thank the late Queen"for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all.”

source: people.com