Awkward Moments with Prince William at Commonwealth Day Service
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s last official royal engagement at the Commonwealth Day service on March 9, 2020, was overshadowed by visible tension and strained interactions.
Held at Westminster Abbey, the event was meant to mark their farewell as working royals. However, their encounter with Prince William and Princess Catherine was noticeably cold. According to lip readers, William greeted Harry with a curt “Hello,” to which Harry simply replied, “Hello.” Meghan also greeted him twice, as he initially did not acknowledge her.
The Sussexes were excluded from the formal ceremonial procession and instead seated alongside Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex—a move royal expert Robert Lacey described as a symbolic demotion to "junior royal" status. Reports suggest Harry was deeply upset by the arrangement.
In a last-minute attempt to ease tensions, the Prince and Princess of Wales opted to skip the procession and take their seats alongside Harry and Meghan. Lacey noted this as a “small but sensitive gesture of peace.”
Despite efforts to maintain composure, body language expert Judi James observed that Harry displayed signs of discomfort, frequently reaching for his wedding ring as a self-soothing gesture. Meghan, in contrast, maintained a bright smile and was overheard whispering to Harry, “Big smiles!” as they took their seats.
Once the service ended and William and Catherine departed, Harry’s demeanor noticeably shifted. He appeared more relaxed, engaging warmly with guests. “With the other royals gone, Harry and Meghan became an animated, tactile double-act again,” James noted.
