Will The Queen ever cuddle her namesake great-granddaughter? At last, Harry and Meghan 'want to meet'

Watch: Prince William 'hasn't come to terms' with Prince Harry, Meghan's exit

The Queen is known to enjoy a close relationship with William and Kate's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and was photographed smiling down at Little Archie, son to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle soon after his birth in May 2019.

She has also met August, firstborn to Princess Eugenie, the granddaughter who gets on so well with the Monarch, she calls her "Granny."

But after the great Step Back in January 2020, which saw Harry and Meghan renounce royal duties in favour of a new life in California, working with their own charity foundation, Archewell, The Queen has not seen Archie in person.

She also has yet to meet baby Lilibet, born in early June and named for her own childhood mispronunciation of 'Elizabeth'.

The interview which Prince Harry and Meghan gave to their friend Oprah in March seemingly did much damage to cordial royal relations, with Harry revealing that a 'senior royal'- though not the Queen or the late Prince Philip - had questioned the likely colour of Archie's skin before his birth, and adding that his father, Prince Charles, had 'cut him off' financially and wasn't taking his calls.

Meanwhile, Meghan told the astonished presenter that she had suffered extreme mental health issues, and Harry likened her situation in the family to that of his late mother Diana, and revealed that he felt the need to protect his wife against the glare of the royal spotlight.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth shows her delight as she is presented with
flowers from children during her walkabout on Melrose Market square in
the Scottish Borders May 29, 2002. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell

JJM/PS
Will the Queen meet Baby Lilibet? REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell JJM/PS (Jeff J Mitchell / Reuters)

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Further, Meghan was accused by royal staff of 'bullying', and the claims are under investigation. Meghan has since dismissed them as 'a calculated smear campaign.'

Now, however, the couple seems to be inclined to mend fences, and has allegedly asked for a meeting with the Queen, so she can meet the new baby.

According to a report in The Sun, a Palace insider claimed that royal staff were 'shocked' by the request, due to the depth of the rift and the ill-feeling it created. Soon after the interview aired, Prince Philip died, and the Queen was left a widow.

Many felt the timing had been poor, and were disappointed that Harry did not appear to want to reconcile with the wider family, under the circumstances.

He has since appeared on a podcast with Dax Shepard, discussing the damage caused by generations of royal fathers, and according to reports, Prince Charles was both hurt and upset by his son's very public analysis.

A new clip of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who�s pregnant with their second child after Archie, during their bombshell tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey after quitting their Royal Job, shows Meghan, Duchess of Sussex finally feeling free and ready to talk about being blocked from having her voice by royal aides. The clip aired on CBS This Morning ahead of premiere on US network on Sunday night. (Photo by DPPA/Sipa USA)
Are Harry and Meghan ready to mend fences? Pictured here with Archie as a baby. (Photo by DPPA/Sipa USA/PA) (SIPA USA/PA Images)

The unnamed source told the newspaper: "'Harry and Meghan have made this offer but a lot of people are shocked by the sheer nerve of it. They may genuinely want to see the Queen but it's breath-taking given what they've put her through this year."

But while no decision has yet been made about whether to invite Harry and Meghan to the usual royal Christmas gathering, despite them having missed it twice - last year in part due to lockdown - the Queen is said to be amenable to a meeting.

Prior to the family rift, she has always got on exceptionally well with her second grandson, even appearing alongside him in a promotion for the Invictus Games.

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"The Queen is still very fond of Harry, and would love to see Lilibet and her brother Archie," the insider was quoted as saying, while Harry told Oprah that, despite the other problems, "I never blindsided my grandmother - I have too much respect for her."

The Sussexes also held a Zoom call with her on her birthday last year, pre-Oprah interview.

According to the biography of the couple, Finding Freedom, a source said, "“Despite everything that has happened, Harry has the utmost love and respect for (the Queen).

“Her life of duty and service is one of the many ways in which she has inspired him to also serve.”

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