Prince Harry Shares Queen Elizabeth's Heartwarming Reaction to Archie and Lilibet During Their Final Meeting

Prince Harry revealed the touching words Queen Elizabeth II used to describe Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after what became their final meeting.

In his 2023 memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex looked back on the family's June 2022 visit to the U.K. for the late monarch's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

"Archie making deep, chivalrous bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch's shins. Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused," Harry shared, recalling how Queen Elizabeth reacted to seeing his children together.

Harry added that Elizabeth had expected something different.

"She'd expected them to be a bit more… American, I think? Meaning, in her mind, more rambunctious," he continued.

The June 2022 visit is widely believed to have been the first and only time Elizabeth met Lilibet, who was 1, and Archie, who was 3. As of now, Archie is 7, while Lilibet is 5.

Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022.

In a personal statement published on the Archewell Foundation website after the Queen's death, the Duke of Sussex looked back on the memories they shared over the years.

He said, "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."

He continued, "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."

Harry concluded the tribute by acknowledging his father, writing, "And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III."

According to Harry, these memories stayed with him as he came to terms with her death.

The June 2022 trip also marked King Charles' first meeting with his granddaughter.

At the time, a royal source said that the then-Prince of Wales was delighted to see both of Harry's children, saying, "It was a fantastic visit. The prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time."

They also described it as "wonderful" that Harry and Meghan Markle would return to Britain.

The source added, "It was very special to have some time with him. He hadn't met Lilibet, his granddaughter, and so to meet her for the first time was very emotional — it was a wonderful thing."

Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and later settled in California.

This week, Harry is expected to return to the U.K., as he marks the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.