Prince Harry ‘blinked through tears’ after ‘snub’ at ‘cold and distant’ final outing as royal

On Monday, members of the Royal Family will mark Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey – and the annual service four years ago was the tense final royal engagement for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Meghan Marke and Prince Harry stepped back as senior royals in 2020

Meghan Marke and Prince Harry stepped back as senior royals in 2020 (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)

It’s one of the main events in the royal calendar where many of the senior royals join together for a grand service at Westminster Abbey.

But this year’s Commonwealth Day service missed several key figures. With King Charles and the Princess of Wales away from public-facing duties, they were be forced to miss out on the ceremony, which was instead led by Queen Camilla, with Prince William also in attendance. However, two family members who were also on the missing list was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In fact, the event in 2020 marked their last royal engagement before quitting as senior royals to carve out new lives for themselves in North America.

by Taboola
Sponsored Link

Top Physiotherapists Create Knee Pain Relief Brace – But Does It Really Work?Knee Patella Stabilizer

The royals at the service in 2020
The royals at the service in 2020 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
This reportedly led to William and Kate not walking in the procession in an attempt to resolve the issue – despite the orders of service stating otherwise. And in his book Battle of Brothers, royal author and historian Robert Lacey says even though Meghan had a “megawatt” smile, Harry was more gloomy.

This Morning: Rylan shares his opinion on Prince Harry security

He writes: “Observers also noted that Harry’s face was ‘quite tense and unsmiling’ – and that when William sat down close to him, he barely greeted his brother. Throughout the service, Meghan megawatted away with her best TV smile but, as the ceremony progressed, Harry appeared to grow gloomier. According to one observer, ‘his accelerated blinking even suggested he might have been fighting back tears.'”

Harry said the service felt "cold"
Harry said the service felt “cold” 
Image:
PA)
Harry later told how he felt at the service in his and Meghan’s controversial Netflix series released at the end of 2022. The service was the first time he and Meghan had seen many family members since an extended Christmas stay in Canada – and the news broke about them quitting the Firm.

Young Woman Keeps Making Hand Signals on Airplane – Flight Attendant Knows Exactly What To DoHappy in Shape|
Sponsored Links by Taboola

17+ Iconic Songs No Longer Allowed On The Radiomagazine.todo|
Sponsored Links by Taboola

Dating for Senior SinglesKoreadates

by Taboola

Sponsored Links

Taste the Ooni Difference. Learn Why Ooni Stands OutOoni Pizza Ovens

by Taboola
Sponsored Links

Fast Way To Get Rid of Spidersgetbugmd

by Taboola
Sponsored Links

Seniors Can Get AARP Long Term Care Insurance For $89/MonthLong Term Care Insurance | Search Ads

by Taboola
Sponsored Links

Harry explained: “The first time that we saw the other members of the family was in Westminster Abbey. We were nervous seeing the family because all the TV cameras and everybody watching at home and everybody watching in the audience. It’s like living through a soap opera where everybody else views you as entertainment. I felt really distant from the rest of my family, which was interesting because so much of how they operate is about what it looks like, rather than what it feels like. And it looked cold. But it also felt cold.”

At this year’s annual service on Monday, it will draw on the theme of resilience – at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles. But the service will focus on stories of environmental resilience and marine sustainability, through performances representing the five regions of the Commonwealth.

Grammarly

Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice

AriatKeep Your Cowboy Boots in Perfect Condition (See How)

by Taboola
Sponsored Links

A pre-recorded video message from Head of the Commonwealth, Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will be played during the service, Buckingham Palace said. Camilla will carry out a second engagement afterwards when she attends the annual Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House in London, meeting foreign ministers, UK parliamentarians and High Commissioners.