Prince Harry has landed in the UK to attend the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip, who passed away peacefully aged 99 on Friday.
It is the Duke of Sussex’s first trip home since he and his wife Meghan Markle left to live in California after their shock split from the Royal Family.
Despite not having enough time to quarantine for the full 10 days after arriving in the UK, he will still be allowed to attend his grandfather’s funeral on Saturday, April 17.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Saturday, April 10, that Prince Harry would be flying back for the funeral, but Meghan, who is heavily pregnant with their second child, has been advised by doctors against flying.
So why can Prince Harry break the travel quarantine to attend Prince Philip’s funeral? Here we explain.
Why can Prince Harry leave the 10 day quarantine early?
According to the government’s lockdown rules, there is a provision which allows him to leave quarantine on “compassionate” grounds.
The government guidance states: “You can leave your place of self-isolation in limited circumstances, including on compassionate grounds.
“This includes attending a funeral of a household member, a close family member or a friend (if neither household member or close family member can attend the funeral).”
But apart from attending the funeral, the law says you need to “continue to self-isolate at all other times”.
To make sure he is complying with Covid-19 rules, Harry will have had to take a test three days before travelling, which will have had to be negative.
He will have also had to complete a passenger locator form like all other passengers, detailing where he will be quarantining.
Harry will also have had to book a travel test package, which includes two coronavirus tests.
One should be taken on or before the second day of his quarantine in the UK, and the second on or after his eighth day in the UK.
Alternatively, Prince Harry could also use the Test to Release scheme, where he can pay for a private test five days into quarantine.
These tests cost £130, and he can leave the quarantine if result is negative.
If Harry chooses this option, he will not have to continue quarantining after the funeral.
The Test to Release scheme can’t be used if you’ve been in, or through a country on the travel ban red list in the 10 days before you arrive in England.
Failure to abide by the rules can lead to fines of up to £10,000, and failure to take the required tests can result in a £2,000 fine.
