Meghan Markle's awkward exchange with very senior royal in final engagement

28 July 2023 , 15:50

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Harry and Meghan carried out their final royal engagement by attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020 (Image: Getty Images)

Meghan Markle reportedly endured a wincingly awkward moment during her final engagement alongside Harry as senior royals. Three years ago, Harry and Meghan carried out their final royal engagement by attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

They attended the service alongside the Queen, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge - and many remarked on the tension between the family members. Their attendance came after announcing they would be stepping down as senior royals and starting a new life in the USA.

During the day's celebrations, Meghan and Harry were seen chatting with Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, however eagle-eyed royal fans claim Meghan had an awkward moment with his wife, Sophie, who seemed to snub the Duchess. A TikTok video shows Meghan and Harry take their seats at Westminster Abbey, as Edward leans to make conversation, while Sophie appears to turn her head in the other direction.

Another video seems to show both Meghan and Sophie looking in one direction, before Sophie turns to face the Duchess, prompting Meghan to instantly lower her head, writes Newsweek. Historian Robert Lacey wrote in his book, Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, that Meghan wore her "best TV smile" for the day - while Harry reacted very differently.

He writes: "Throughout the service, Meghan megawatted away with her best TV smile but, as the ceremony progressed, Harry appeared to grow gloomier," added Lacey. "According to one observer, 'his accelerated blinking even suggested he might have been fighting back tears.'"

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Sophie was spotted turning her gaze towards Meghan who then lowered her head

According to the book, Harry appeared to be "fighting back the tears" following what they perceived to be a "snub". Before the ceremony, 2,000 orders of service had been distributed detailing that William and Kate would enter the Abbey with the main royal party.

However, there was no mention of Harry and Meghan being in the procession, with the Daily Mail reporting the couple was "quite sensitive and emotional about it". 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.

Lacey writes: "So there was the snub in black and white - set out for all to see. 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."

Abigail O'Leary