11 March 2024 , 07:00
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The Princess of Wales reportedly made a kind last-minute gesture during what was to be Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's final engagement as senior members of the Royal family.
While attending the 2020 Commonwealth Day service, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex allegedly 'became emotional and upset' after learning they wouldn't be permitted to join Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the senior royals in the main VIP party.
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.
Today's Commonwealth Day service will be missing several key figures. With King Charles and the Princess of Wales away from public-facing duties, they will be forced to miss out on the ceremony, which instead will be led by Queen Camilla, with Prince William also in attendance.
Harry and Meghan's final engagement as senior Royals was reportedly fraught with tension (PA)Prince Harry and Meghan won't be in attendance after stepping back four years ago. It was the last event they attended as senior members of the royal family - and they weren't happy to learn they were expected to make their way to the front of Westminster Abbey, where they would wait with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ahead of the arrival of other senior royals.
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Not wanting more public drama, the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly attempted to defuse the awkward situation by offering to join Harry and Meghan as they waited for the arrival of the late Queen and their father, King Charles III.
Things didn't go to plan, however, the Mail Online reports, as 2,000 already-printed orders of service very clearly stipulated that William and Kate would be arriving with the main party. Unfortunately, this peace offering reportedly didn't quell existing tensions, and the two couples appeared to exchange very brief and uncomfortable greetings as they took their seats in the Abbey.
The previous year, Meghan and Kate greeted each other with a peck on the cheek, in a notably warmer and more relaxed meeting. This time around, just a few brief words were exchanged between the sisters-in-law, while William and Harry also appeared rather reserved with each other. In the book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors, Royal writer Tom Bower stated that a 'monumental argument' had occurred after 'Palace officials … decided to publicly humiliate [Harry and Meghan]'.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex allegedly 'became emotional and upset' (PA)
Prince William and Kate reportedly attempted to offer an olive branch (PA)Bower wrote: "Reality hit two days later, on 9th March. A monumental argument blew up after Harry was told that he and Meghan could not join the family’s procession through Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day Service. Although the order of service listed Harry and Meghan walking behind the Queen, Palace officials had revised their decision. Suspicious about the Sussexes they decided to publicly humiliate them."
Many remarked that the couples appeared quite cold during their greetings (PA)He continued: "Harry was told that having stepped down from royal duties, he and Meghan would sit and wait with the congregation. The prospect of the televised image of their isolation in the Abbey appalled them. By then they were keenly aware of Kate and William's antagonism. William had not offered a brotherly welcome and Kate was outright distant towards her sister-in-law.
"Eventually, to end the dispute, William and Kate agreed they too would wait with Harry and Meghan. As the members of the Royal Family filed into the Abbey, the frayed relationships could not be concealed. Kate had blanked the Sussexes and William’s greeting was cold. Harry looked strained. Meghan's face showed bemusement."