(FILES) In this file photo Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (L) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 09, 2020. – President Donald Trump said March 29, 2020 that the United States would not pay security costs for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, appearing to confirm that the royal couple have moved to live in California.They reportedly flew by private jet from Canada to Los Angeles before the border between the two countries closed because of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The stage is set for one of the most significant events in the Royal calendar, often referred to as and ‘s final farewell. Tomorrow, King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, will unite for the grand Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. Last year, both Kate and the King were absent from the ceremony due to their cancer diagnoses – but both are set to return for this year’s celebration.
However, two family members who will certainly be absent are the Sussexes. Indeed, the 2020 event marked their last Royal engagement before they stepped down as senior royals to forge new lives in North America.They attended the service alongside other members of the Firm – and many noted the tension between the family members. According to a book, Harry seemed to be “fighting back the tears” following what was perceived as a “snub”. Prior to the ceremony, 2,000 orders of service had been distributed detailing that William and Kate would enter the Abbey with the main Royal party. However, there was no mention of Harry and Meghan being in the procession, with the Daily Mail reporting the couple was “quite sensitive and emotional about it,” reports .
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Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2nd R) follow Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (C) and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) as they depart Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020. – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has been the Head of the Commonwealth throughout her reign. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Phil Harris / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PHIL HARRIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite the orders of service indicating otherwise, it is reported that William and Kate chose not to walk in the procession in an attempt to resolve a certain issue. In his book ‘Battle of Brothers’, Royal author and historian Robert Lacey notes that while Meghan maintained a “megawatt” smile, Harry appeared more sombre.
Lacey writes: “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.
“According to one observer, ‘his accelerated blinking even suggested he might have been fighting back tears’.” Harry later shared his feelings about the service in his and Meghan’s controversial series released at the end of 2022. This service marked the first time he and Meghan had seen many family members since their extended Christmas stay in Canada – and the news broke about them stepping back from the Firm.
Harry explained: “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.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stand behind the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, London on Commonwealth Day. The service is the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s final official engagement before they quit royal life. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday March 9, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Commonwealth. Photo credit should read: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror/PA Wire (Image: PA)
“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.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Camilla, along with the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, are set to attend a service at Westminster Abbey tomorrow, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace.This year’s Commonwealth Day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Together We Thrive’, honouring the “enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family”.
The service will feature a performance by singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, who will present an arrangement of her popular hit ‘Love And Affection’ for the congregation of 2,000.
In a simultaneous 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’s 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.