Heartbroken: Prince Harry ‘fought back tears’ after being ‘snubbed’ by royal family…. See More

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s last engagement as senior royals was the Commonwealth Day service in 2020 – and there was reportedly tension between them and the royal family

Prince Harry was left heartbroken after seemingly being snubbed by the royal family on his final official engagement, according to an expert.

The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle made their final royal engagement at the 2020 Commonwealth Day service before stepping back to build a new life in America. Observers at that service noted the tension within the royal family.

A book even described Harry as “fighting back the tears” after feeling snubbed when more than 2,000 orders of service left out any mention of him and Meghan in the procession, which reportedly left the couple feeling “quite sensitive and emotional about it.”

Despite the expected protocol, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose not to participate in the procession, aiming to stop rumors of strained relations. Royal expert Robert Lacey pointed out that Meghan beamed with a “megawatt” smile, whereas Harry’s demeanor was notably more reserved.

Lacey observed in his book Battle of Brothers, “Observers also noted that Harry’s face was ‘quite tense and unsmiling’ – and that when William sat down close to him, he barely greeted his brother. Throughout the service, Meghan megawatted away with her best TV smile but, as the ceremony progressed, Harry appeared to grow gloomier.”

He also mentioned, “According to one observer, ‘his accelerated blinking even suggested he might have been fighting back tears’.”

In the couple’s Netflix series, Harry opened up about his apprehensions during their public appearance at Westminster Abbey. It was their first meeting with the royal family since spending an extended holiday in Canada and the announcement of their step back from senior royal duties.

Harry detailed, “The first time that we saw the other members of the family was in Westminster Abbey. 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.”

He continued, “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.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton, King Charles and Camilla, along with the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, are all set to attend a service at Westminster Abbey today, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. This year’s Commonwealth Day will be celebrated under the theme Together We Thrive, honoring the “enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family”.

The service will feature a performance by singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, who will perform her hit Love And Affection for the congregation of 2,000. In another event, the King will initiate the inaugural King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, marking the official countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

This will be the 18th official Commonwealth Games relay, and Charles’ first in his capacity as King. Charles will insert a message into the baton, which will then be sealed until the opening ceremony next summer.

At this point, the King’s words will be read aloud to signal the commencement of the sporting competition. The baton will be handed over to the first baton bearer, six-time Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy.