Prince Harry was reportedly “put out” by a brief and cool greeting from his brother during their last public appearance together before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s official exit from the Royal Family.
The encounter, which took place at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, marked the first public exchange between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge since Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from royal duties.
According to a lip reader for The Daily Telegraph, Prince Harry appeared to turn to Meghan in the pews and comment on how curtly his brother had greeted him.
The lip reader reported Harry’s words: “He literally said: ‘Hello, Harry’ and that was it and he didn’t say anything more than that.”
While the lip reader couldn’t confirm that Prince Harry was explicitly referring to Prince William, the timing of the remark suggested he was referencing their exchange just moments earlier.
This brief exchange highlighted the strained relations between the brothers, whose once-close bond has been tested by recent events.
The Commonwealth Day service was the Sussexes’ last official engagement as senior royals, marking the end of their duties within the Firm after the high-profile announcement of their intention to step back, a decision that has since been dubbed “Megxit ».
The royal feud has been the subject of intense media scrutiny, with speculation that tensions between Harry and William had been simmering long before Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave.
In October 2019, Harry hinted at their rift during an ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, admitting that he and his brother were “on different paths ».
Before this public admission, signs of strain were already visible. Following the Sussexes’ decision to skip Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham in 2019, Harry and Meghan spent a six-week holiday in Canada.
The absence at the family’s Christmas gathering was noted and fueled rumors of a growing rift, especially as the couple announced their plans to step back from royal duties soon after.
Harry and William last met at the so-called “Sandringham Summit,” where the terms of Harry and Meghan’s new, independent role were finalised.
During that meeting, the Queen, Prince Charles, William, and Harry discussed how the Sussexes could maintain some royal roles while stepping back from official duties.
In the end, the Queen granted their wish to live a more private life but imposed conditions, including restrictions on their use of the “Sussex Royal” brand.
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