Harry and Meghan Reflect on Their Final Royal Appearance
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently shared their memories of their final engagement as working royals, which occurred two months after their announcement to step back from official duties. The couple’s last official event took place at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey, five years ago, marking the end of an era in their royal lives.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan publicly declared their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family. Their final engagement followed shortly after, where they joined Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other royals. The Westminster Abbey service was both a ceremonial occasion and a personal milestone, signaling a major transition in their public roles.
The couple later offered a candid glimpse into this period through their 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan. The series revealed the challenges of royal life, the pressures of constant public scrutiny, and their personal reflections on stepping away. Since then, Meghan has continued to expand her creative ventures, launching the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which combines celebrity interactions with cooking and lifestyle content.
Recounting the final engagement, Meghan recalled, “The first time that we saw the other members of the family was in public at Westminster Abbey.” Harry described the moment as overwhelming: “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.”
During the service, Harry and Meghan were seated behind William and Kate. While Meghan greeted them politely, Harry felt a clear emotional distance. “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,” he said. “And it looked cold. But it also felt cold.”
Following their departure from royal duties, Queen Elizabeth II issued a rare personal statement acknowledging their decision. “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family,” she said. “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
