Britain's top royals came
together on Monday at Westminster Abbey in their last public
family gathering before Prince Harry and his wife Meghan set off
on a new career path devoid of official duties.
The annual Commonwealth Service was also the first time
Harry and Meghan had been seen with Queen Elizabeth, his elder
brother William and wife Kate, and father Prince Charles and his
wife Camilla, since the couple thrashed out an exit deal from
their royal roles in January.
Harry and Meghan smiled and she waved at William and Kate as
they arrived at the abbey. The couple chatted and laughed with
his uncle, Prince Edward, who was sitting next to them.
"I imagine everybody will be on absolutely best behaviour,"
royal biographer Penny Junor told Reuters. "But goodness knows
what they will all be thinking privately."
Britain's Prince Harry bows his head as the Monarch Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, left, arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London Monday, March 9, 2020. Picture: Phil Harris / Pool via AP
The January agreement, which comes into force at the end of
the month, will see the couple - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
- seek to carve out "a progressive new role", mainly in North
America, that they aim to finance themselves.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, will stop using their HRH titles
- His or Her Royal Highness, will not use "royal" in their
branding and Harry, who remains a prince, will relinquish his
military titles.
Their announcement that they wished to step back from some
royal duties sent shockwaves through the monarchy. It led to a
crisis meeting involving the 93-year-old queen, her heir
Charles, William and Harry that concluded he and Meghan would
have to give up all their royal duties.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan at the Annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture: Reuters
The couple have since spent most of their time in Canada,
but returned this month for a farewell round of engagements.
Their baby son Archie has remained in Canada.
Monday's event was their last official royal appearance and
came less than two years after they married in a dazzling
ceremony watched by millions.
"Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the
Commonwealth and my military associations without public
funding. Sadly that wasn't possible," the prince, sixth-in-line
to the throne, said in January.
From left, Britain's Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London Monday March 9, 2020. Picture: Phil Harris / Pool via AP
Polls show Harry, whose mother was the late Princess Diana,
is one of the most popular royals and the couple were greeted
with a standing ovation at an event on Saturday.
Junor said his leaving would be a huge loss for the family
and the monarchy.
"I thought that he had absolutely embraced his destiny as a
member of the royal family," she said. "He recognised what he
could do with his position, the power he had to change things
for good. I think he will miss that ability to make people's
lives better."
However, Harry, who served in the army for 10 years, has
never hidden his discomfort with his royal role and the
attention of the media. He has spoken candidly about his mental
health struggles following his mother's death.
He has also been angered by the treatment his American wife,
a former actress, has received from some British tabloids. She
has also said how difficult she found it.
Prince Harry at the Annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture: Reuters
Junor said Harry might find it difficult living in the
United States and Canada away from his family, friends and
former life.
"He is giving up everything he's known, a huge family that
he's very close to, and his work, to go and live in Canada where
he actually knows nobody and he has no job," she said.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, Monday, March 9, 2020.AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Last weekend, Harry met the queen at Windsor Castle to
discuss his future. A royal source confirmed a report in the Sun
newspaper that the queen told Harry he would always be welcome
to rejoin the royal fold.
"I could imagine Harry coming back," Junor said.
"I hope that they will not wake up one day and think 'what
on earth have we done and what does life hold for us? We're
sitting in paradise ... but what else do we have in life?' I
hope that doesn't happen to them."