After the unexpected and revealing conversation with the Queen, Harry felt that a new perspective on his life had been opened. The feeling of being recognized and understood by the highest echelons of the British monarchy affected him in ways he was not sure how to describe. He left Buckingham Palace with his mind full of reflections, but before returning home, he had one more commitment to fulfill.
Prince William had invited him to an informal meeting, something more relaxed after the palace ceremony. Harry and William had become good friends over the years, especially after Harry had been the personal security guard for the royal family. Although William was the direct heir to the throne, there was a genuine friendship between them, fueled by mutual respect and shared experiences.
Harry headed to a private Windsor estate, where William was waiting for him. When he arrived, he was greeted with a broad smile and a friendly hug from the Prince, who was dressed casually, a far cry from the formality of the palace.
— Harry! — William exclaimed, extending his hand. — I'm so glad you came.
"William, it's always good to see you," Harry replied, shaking the prince's hand and greeting him familiarly.
After a few polite words and laughter over trivial matters, William looked at the house in the background.
"I have someone I want to introduce you to today," William said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "My girlfriend, Catherine. I'm sure you two will get along very well."
Harry smiled, hearing the familiar name of Catherine Middleton, the young woman William had been dating for some time. He knew about their relationship, but had not yet had the opportunity to meet her in person.
William led him to an outdoor area, where Catherine was sitting in the shade of a tree, reading a book. When she noticed them approaching, she closed the book and stood up, with a warm smile on her face.
"Catherine, this is Harry," William said, introducing himself proudly. "The man I've talked about so much."
Catherine took a few steps forward and extended her hand to Harry.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Harry," she said with a gentle smile. "I've heard so much about you."
Harry smiled, shaking her hand.
"It's my pleasure, Catherine. I hope William said good things," he replied in a relaxed manner, drawing a laugh from both of them.
The three of them spent some time together, talking about various subjects. Catherine's sweet and charming personality quickly made Harry feel at ease with her. They discussed travel, life in the country, and at times even touched on the lighter topic of Harry's work with the royal family. Catherine was especially curious to hear some of Harry's stories, especially since William had told her about Harry's reputation as the "Ghost" in the world of espionage and militarism.
"I know I can't ask about secret missions," Catherine said with a playful smile, "but I'm always curious about what life is like for someone with so much history behind them."
Harry laughed, keeping his posture relaxed.
— Well, I can tell you it's not as glamorous as it looks in the movies. A lot of times, it's just hard work and sleepless nights.
William looked at Catherine with a smile, proud of the way she and Harry were connecting. He knew Harry was someone he could trust in any situation, and seeing Catherine comfortable with his friend put him at ease.
"Harry here is very modest," William interrupted, laughing. "If he told you half of what he's been through, Catherine, you wouldn't believe it."
Harry shook his head, slightly embarrassed by the attention, but smiled.
"I just do what's necessary, like any good soldier."
As the afternoon wore on and the sun began to set, Harry felt it was time to leave. Although the time had passed quickly, meeting William and Catherine had been a pleasant break from the intensity of his routine.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Catherine," Harry said as he said goodbye. "I'm sure we'll see each other again."
"The pleasure was all mine, Harry. I hope we can talk more next time," she replied with a warm smile. "And who knows, maybe William will invite me to hear some of those stories he loves to tell."
William, laughing, waved to Harry, making a "see you soon" gesture. "See you soon, brother," William said. "And don't forget our next polo match."
"I wouldn't forget it for the world," Harry replied with a smile as he drove away.
As he drove back to his home, Harry reflected on the day. The meeting with the Queen had been an unexpected but comforting revelation that he was not alone in his sacrifices.
When he arrived home, Harry sat on the porch, looking at the night sky. The silence of nature around him contrasted with the whirlwind of thoughts that still echoed in his mind. He had come a long way, from the difficult times of his magical youth to becoming a legend in both the military and intelligence worlds.
But in that moment of peace, Harry felt that, no matter what battles he had faced or would yet face, he would always have something valuable — the feeling of belonging somewhere, of being respected and recognized, not only as a soldier, but as a figure of trust and friendship among the people he respected most.