- Prince Harry shared a statement honoring the Queen after her death.
- He reflected on his favorite memories and said the monarch is now reunited with Prince Philip.
The Duke of Sussex shared his first statement in response to the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen died on Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. She was 96.
In a statement shared on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell website on Monday, Harry reflected on his favorite memories with the British monarch.
"In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen—and in mourning her loss—we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty," the statement began.
"She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy," he added. "Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: 'Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.'"
The statement went on: "Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren."
"I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III," he added.
"Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile," he wrote. "We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace."
Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99. He was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years, making him the longest-serving consort in British history.
The Queen sat alone at his funeral due to the country's social-distancing regulations at the time. She honored Philip's legacy many times during the final year of her life, including in her annual Christmas speech last year which praised his environmental work and his creation of the Duke of Edinburgh award for young people across the UK.