It was an early exit from the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as they opted to miss the VIP reception, according to reports.
The couple were said to have been taken back to Windsor shortly after the service after the couple were faced with cheers from the crowds who’d gathered outside St Paul’s.
The Queen, 96, did not attend the service due to mobility issues and Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, who are making their first UK appearance in the UK for two years, did not opt to join the rest of the Royals at London’s Guildhall for the reception.
The Sussexes were sat next to Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, as well as Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The Prince, who stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2020, was quick to greet his relatives as he sat down, making a playful face – with his family reciprocating the warm greeting with big smiles.
Despite the warm reception, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly opted to travel back to Windsor rather than attend an event following the thanksgiving service.
A Palace aide told The Sun: “Harry and Meghan were happy to swing by Clarence House to see Charles on the way to St Paul’s. But afterwards they were less keen to spend time hobnobbing with the family at the reception where they would rub shoulders with William and Kate.”
OK! has contacted a representative for Harry and Meghan for comment.
The Sussexes stepped away from the Royal Family back in 2020 after a turbulent couple of years of working as a royal couple following their marriage in 2018.
They moved to Montecito in California, and are raising their two children, Archie and Lilibet, as private citizens – keeping them mostly out of the limelight.
Meghan and Harry reportedly have not been in close contact with Prince William and Kate Middleton since they stepped away from Royal life.
Body language expert Judi James told the publication that Harry’s body language at the service suggested his anxiety levels were “quite high”.
She said: “It was like he had agreed to be the invisible man there to some extent.”
Ms James added: “There was also a return of the slightly haunted eye expression we used to see before they moved abroad.”
Despite being the focus of the thanksgiving service, the Queen did not attend the event due to being in some "discomfort" following the Trooping of the Colour and flypast on Thursday.
She sent Prince Charles to attend the service on her behalf, with her mobility issues causing her to take it easy on the second day of the Jubilee celebrations.
Prince Andrew also pulled out of the service due to testing positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.
For updates on all your favourite celebs, sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Source: Read Full Article
