Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle made their last formal appearance as the duke and duchess of Sussex before stepping down from royal life. They attended a Commonwealth event Monday along with Queen Elizabeth II and other family members, leading to cold interactions, according to People.
Prince Harry and Meghan sat near Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton.
The event marked the first publicly attended by both royal couples since Remembrance Day in November.
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William offered brief greetings, while Kate reportedly avoided eye contact. The two couples conversed with others sitting around them instead of each other.
This event concludes a drama-fraught few months with the royal family. The awkward exchanges are indicative of a rumored "rift" between the brothers.
"They are on different paths now," a source previously said of the two couples. "It's just the reality of the situation."
"They didn't leave on good terms by any means, but they are both relieved that it's over," a family friend told People.
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The Commonwealth event happens every year to encourage good relations among Commonwealth members. The queen has been head of the 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth since 1952 at age 26.
"It's not just what a lot of people would call Imperial nostalgia — a yearning for the good old days of the Raj. The queen has always embraced an evolving Commonwealth and supported the notion of Britain as a multiracial country because it is part of a multiracial Commonwealth." —Philip Murphy, Institute of Commonwealth Studies at The University of London
According to The Associated Press, the event was organized a bit differently this year, perhaps due to Harry and Meghan's royal exit.
Prince Harry, Prince William and their wives usually process into the church along with the queen. This time, the couples watched from the church pews.
Even without the titles, Harry and Meghan will remain president and vice president of the queen’s Commonwealth Trust, an organization which champions young leaders around the world.
The couple and son Archie expect to split their time between Canada and the United Kingdom.
