Prince Harry has arrived back in the UK for the first time in over a year ahead of Prince Philip's funeral
- Prince Harry arrived back in the UK on Sunday evening for the first time since March 2020.
- The Duke of Sussex flew from Los Angeles alone and was seen arriving at London Heathrow Airport.
- Harry will attend Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday without Meghan Markle, who is unable to fly.
Prince Harry has arrived back in the UK for the first time in over a year ahead of Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday, April 17.
The Duke of Sussex reportedly landed at London Heathrow airport on Sunday, April 11, two days after Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Philip had died aged 99.
Sky News reports that Harry arrived on a British Airways flight from Los Angeles at 1.15 p.m. He was without his son Archie or Meghan Markle, who is pregnant with the couple's second child and has been advised by her physician not to travel, a royal spokesperson confirmed to Insider on Saturday.
In a tribute made on the Archewell website after the news of Prince Philip's death broke on Friday, the couple wrote: "In loving memory of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Thank you for your service ... You will be greatly missed."
This visit marks Prince Harry's first time in the UK since March 2020, when he and Meghan attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey - their last engagement as working royals before stepping back. This will also be Harry's first time seeing his family since his and Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey aired.
UK COVID-19 restrictions for travel usually require individuals to quarantine for 10 days but as the funeral falls within the quarantine period, Harry has likely been granted a compassionate exemption.
According to guidance published on the UK government's website: "You can leave your place of self-isolation in limited circumstances, including on compassionate grounds."
'This includes attending a funeral of a household member, a close family member or a friend (if neither household member or close family member can attend the funeral)," it adds.
Harry would have been required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding his flight, and two more during his stay in London.
He will join 30 other guests including close family members for the funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Attendees will be required to wear masks and there will be no procession due to COVID-19.
Although he is entitled to a state funeral as the Queen's consort, The Independent previously reported that Prince Philip will not receive one due to his request that there not be any fuss after his death.
Members of the royal family began sharing statements about their loss over the weekend.
In a statement sent to Insider, Prince Charles said: "As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously. He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow."
Prince Edward touched on the public reaction to his father's death, saying: "It just goes to show: he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people."
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew described the loss as "having left a huge void" in the Queen's life, and added: "But we the family - the ones that are closer - are rallying round to make sure we're there."
The funeral will be televised and there will be a national minute's silence at 3 p.m. to honor the duke, according to Sky News.