Harry, Meghan, William and Kate thank the crowds in Windsor

       Princess Kate is said to be the "reason" Meghan Markle did not to travel to Balmoral with Prince Harry after receiving news of Queen Elizabeth's fast declining health last year.

       Meghan was originally supposed to travel to Balmoral with her husband, with a spokesman for the couple confirming the arrangements at 2pm on the day of the late Queen's death. She died just over an hour later, at 3:10pm.

       The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were already in the UK to attend the WellChild Awards Ceremony and had been staying at Windsor prior to news about the Queen's deteroriating health.

       Kate was photographed driving to collect Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from Lambrook School at 3.12pm after Meghan and Harry's announcement.

       In the end, Harry arrived at Aberdeen Airport alone after his grandmother's death had already been announced.

       READ MORE: Prince Andrew files locked away until 2065 as 'culture of secrecy' slammed

       Meghan and Harry's spokesperson initially said both would travel to Scotland (Image: Getty)

       After the photos of Kate emerged, Omid Scobie, the author of the controversial biography Finding Freedom, tweeted that Meghan's plans had changed and "like the Duchess of Cambridge", she too would be staying at home.

       This led to speculation that Kate was the "reason" Meghan chose to remain at home.

       According to the Daily Mail, the Suits actress "changed her mind" because of Kate.

       Other senior members of the Royal Family touched down in Scotland ahead of Harry, with Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie travelling together.

       Charles and Anne were already at Balmoral.

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       The walkabout with Meghan was said to be 'difficult' for Kate (Image: Getty)

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       Harry followed behind and arrived after his family members.

       In his memoir Spare he said the delay meant he found out his grandmother had died as soon as the plane had landed.

       He wrote: "When the plane started to descend I saw that my phone lit up. It was a message from Meg: 'Call me when you get this. I looked at the BBC website. My grandmother had died."

       Friday marks a year since Queen Elizabeth died and King Charles is set to mark it privately at Balmoral.

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