Nearly four years have passed since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped back from their roles within the British Royal Family, marking a significant turning point in their lives. Their final official engagement took place on March 9, 2020, during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, setting the stage for their departure from royal duties on March 31 of the same year.
This last appearance was notably different from their prior engagements, especially since they were conspicuously absent from Queen Elizabeth II’s formal procession, a deviation from the previous year’s protocol. This event was particularly significant as it represented the Sussexes’ first public reunion with the royal family following their announcement to relocate to Canada.
Unlike the 2019 service, where Harry and Meghan, alongside Prince William and Kate, participated in the Queen’s formal entrance, the couple proceeded directly to their seats in 2020, foregoing the ceremonial procession with the Queen. A body language expert analyzing the couple’s demeanor during the event suggested that their participation was more out of obligation than desire, hinting at the underlying tensions and discomforts within the family dynamics.
This signals that he is taking the lead in this particular situation and that he wants to protect her,” Donaldson said. However, given how things have unraveled, the former royals’ last appearance and their demeanor at the event hold much more weight now.
Since that day, Meghan and Harry have given a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in which they spilled a lot of royal family secrets. Meghan accused Buckingham Palace of “perpetuating falsehoods about us”. The couple also claimed that a senior royal had raised concerns about their son Archie’s skin color before his birth.
Maryann Karinch, in her discussion with Bustle, interpreted their expressions as a “sense of duty,” highlighting the challenging circumstances under which they found themselves. Further insight from Karen Donaldson, another expert in body language and confidence, suggested that Prince Harry’s protective instincts towards Meghan were evident during their final royal engagement. Donaldson noted Harry’s positioning, slightly ahead of Meghan, as a subtle indication of his protective nature.
The years following their royal exit have been eventful for Meghan and Harry, marked by both public scrutiny and personal milestones. In May 2023, they experienced a distressing episode in New York City, described by Harry as a “near catastrophic car chase” following a gala event. Despite the photographers’ claims of a low-speed pursuit, the incident added to the couple’s challenges in navigating public and media attention post-royalty.
Additionally, the Sussexes faced professional setbacks, such as the termination of their $20 million Spotify deal after the lackluster performance of Meghan’s “Archetypes” podcast. Amidst these ups and downs, including rampant separation rumors in 2023, the couple demonstrated unity by appearing together at the Invictus Games, effectively quelling speculations about their marriage. Their journey since leaving the royal fold reflects a complex blend of personal endeavors, public engagements, and the continuous navigation of their unique position within the public eye.