Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared their thoughts on their final appearance as working royals, which took place just two months after they announced their decision to step away from official duties.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their last public engagement as senior royals five years ago at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration.
In January 2020, the couple publicly revealed their decision to step down from their roles within the royal family. Shortly after, they attended their final official event at Westminster Abbey, joining Queen Elizabeth II, then-Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other members of the royal family for the service.
Their experiences surrounding this moment were later explored in their 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan.
Since then, Meghan has launched a new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, where she collaborates with celebrity guests to share cooking tips and entertaining advice.
The 2022 docu-series offered a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into royal life, revealing candid details about their final days as working royals. Reflecting on their last engagement, Meghan recalled: “The first time we saw the rest of the family after our announcement was in public at Westminster Abbey.”
Harry admitted to feeling uneasy about the reunion, explaining: “We were nervous about seeing the family again because of all the TV cameras, the people watching at home, and the audience in the church. It felt like we were part of a soap opera, where everyone saw us as entertainment.”
During the service, Harry and Meghan were seated behind Prince William and Kate Middleton. Meghan smiled and greeted them upon arrival, but according to Harry, the interaction felt strained.
“I felt a real sense of distance from my family,” he shared. “It was interesting because so much of how they operate is about appearance rather than emotion. It looked cold. But it also felt cold.”
After their departure from royal life, Queen Elizabeth II issued a rare personal statement acknowledging Harry and Meghan’s decision.
“My family and I fully support Harry and Meghan’s desire to build a new life as a young family,” she stated. “While we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life while continuing to be a cherished part of my family.”