Tensions between Prince Harry and Prince William have been evident for some time—and one of their final public appearances together seemed to reflect that.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their last official engagement as working royals five years ago at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration.
Back in January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family, and just two months later, they made their final appearance.
They attended the event alongside Queen Elizabeth, Charles, Prince William, Kate, and other members of the royal family. Although the gathering seemed formal and flawless on the surface, many believe there was more going on behind the scenes.
In a video clip from the service, Harry and Meghan are shown seated behind William and Kate. As the couple arrived and took their places in the front row, Meghan smiled warmly, gave a small wave, and even greeted them with a “hello.”
As William and Kate settled into their seats, Harry seemed to lean toward Meghan and speak quietly to her.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman has since interpreted what Harry said, revealing his findings to the Daily Mail. According to Freeman, Harry told Meghan: “At least they acknowledged, unlike last time.”
This comment, subtle yet pointed, might hint at the underlying tensions that have long existed between Harry and his brother William.
Freeman also paid attention to William’s interaction with Kate as he sat down beside her. The Prince of Wales reportedly said: “That was executed well. It’s quite good to connect instead of holding things back like always.”
He allegedly followed that up with: “I know it’s bad, I ought to have words with him. He’ll shout and God knows what but things’ll change, won’t it?”
Meghan has previously opened up about what it was like during their final engagement as senior royals. Speaking in the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, she recalled: “The first time that we saw the other members of the family was in public at Westminster Abbey.”
Harry added: “We were nervous seeing the family because all the TV cameras and everybody watching at home and everybody watching in the audience.
“It’s like living through a soap opera where everybody else views you as entertainment.”
Although Harry and Meghan may have seemed like an integral part of the royal family and appeared to share a close bond with William and Kate, Harry has opened up about how different things felt behind the scenes.
The Duke of Sussex shared, “I felt really distant from the rest of my family, which was interesting because so much of how they operate is about what it looks like, rather than what it feels like.
And it looked cold. But it also felt cold.”
When the couple stepped back from their roles as senior royals, Queen Elizabeth issued a rare and heartfelt statement about her grandson and his wife.
She expressed, “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.
Although 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 as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”