Queen Elizabeth's 'olive branch' to Harry and Meghan days before her grandson returns to London

A photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been spotted inside Buckingham Palace as Queen Elizabeth made her return to London.

The prominent placement of the image could be interpreted as an 'olive branch' to Prince Harry and Meghan days before the Queen's grandson is due to return to the UK.

The monarch hosted her first in-person weekly audience with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic 15 months ago.

They had been holding their weekly meetings over the phone since March 18, 2020, when the Queen moved from the capital to Windsor Castle.

The Queen's audience with Mr Johnson was held inside the Private Audience Room at Buckingham Palace on June 23.

Her Majesty always has photographs of her family on display throughout her royal residences, but they are frequently moved around or swapped out with updated photos.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth's deliberate nod to Princess Diana ahead of 60th birthday event

For the event overnight, a photograph of Harry and Meghan from 2018 was seen on a wooden table alongside other family images.

They include a photograph of Princess Anne and husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and another, partially obscured black and white photo of Zara and Mike Tindall on their wedding day in 2011.

On another table is a photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taken for their engagement in 2010 and a photo of the Queen with the heir to the throne, Prince Charles.

Much has been made about whether Harry and Meghan asked the Queen permission to use her childhood nickname before naming their daughter Lilibet, sparking debate about growing family tension.

Harry and Meghan's decision to name their daughter after the Queen was seen by many as their way of apologising after airing their dirty laundry via the Oprah Winfrey interview.

If the Queen is harbouring any anger towards her grandson, she is hiding it well.

And it's likely to be seen as a good sign for Harry, days before he is due to arrive in the UK.

Prince Harry will attend the unveiling of a statue of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, on July 1 – on what would have been her 60^th birthday.

Prince William will be there, with the brothers expected to give separate speeches during the event inside the Sunken Garden at the palace, Diana's former home.

Meghan is not likely to attend having just given birth to Lilibet Diana on June 4 and will remain in California with son Archie, who turned two in May.

Harry is due to go into self-isolation at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before the July 1 event.

It will mark the first time Harry and William have come face to face since the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip on April 17.