Prince Harry pictured consoling airport staff after Queen's death

The duke is heartbroken after the death of his grandmother


prince harry pictured airport
Updated: On 9 September 2022

The Duke of Sussex has been pictured comforting airport staff ahead of his trip back to London following the death of his grandmother the Queen. The emotional pictures emerged shortly after he left Balmoral on Friday morning.

READ: Queen Elizabeth 1926-2022: A nation mourns, what happens next

Prince Harry, who had an incredibly special bond with Her Majesty, was seen leaving the royal residence in a Range Rover, shortly after 8am.

It is understood he is returning to London on a commercial flight. In the capital, he will be reunited with his wife Meghan.

WATCH: The Queen's Obituary

Thursday, the Duke had made the journey to Balmoral amid concerns for the Queen’s health and he arrived at around 8pm without his wife Meghan.

SEE: King Charles III: his statement, his new title, and what comes next 

MORE: King Charles returns to London following the Queen's death - Live Updates

He had made the trip on a private jet.

Harry and Meghan shared a joint statement on their Archewell website which read: “IN LOVING MEMORY OF Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022.”

© Photo: Getty Images

Prince Harry was pictured comforting airport staff

The couple had flown in from the US to make an appearance at a charity event in the UK.

Tributes from all over the world have been coming in for the late monarch and flowers have been laid for her.

© Photo: Getty Images

The Prince carried a backpack with him

King Charles III and the Queen Consort are expected to leave for Aberdeen airport later on Friday where he will make the journey to London.

© Photo: Getty Images

Harry will be reunited with Meghan on Friday

The King will meet with Prime Minister Liz Truss after his arrival in the capital.

He will also pre-record a televised address that will be played at around 6pm.

Ten days of mourning have begun in the UK to mark the queen’s death.

© Photo: Getty Images

A member of Prince Harry's team carried his belongings onto the aircraft

The rest of the royal family remains at Balmoral Castle at this moment, including the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of York.

The Duchess of Cambridge had stayed in Windsor as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were settling into their new school following their recent move.

Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity and royal news delivered directly to your inbox.