The moment Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended their first senior royal event since splitting from the monarchy has gone viral after footage from the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II has resurfaced on social media site TikTok.
Meghan and Harry split from the monarchy and moved to the U.S. in 2020, citing issues with the British tabloid press, royal family members and the royal household as influencing factors.
Since their move, the couple have listed a number of public grievances against the royals and British media in interviews, documentaries and books. The most significant of these being a joint sit-down interview with TV veteran, Oprah Winfrey, which aired in March 2021.
Meghan Markle at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London in June 2022. The duchess attended the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Harry.
TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
In the interview, Meghan made a number of revelations including that contrary to tabloid reports, she didn’t make Princess Kate cry at the time of her 2018 royal wedding to Harry and that it had been the other way around. Meghan also stated that prior to the birth of her first child an unnamed royal family member raised concerns about the color of their skin.
The interview earned the couple equal measures of criticism and support, particularly on the issue of race.
Buckingham Palace released a rare statement as a result, saying that the issues were “concerning” and that Harry and Meghan would “always be much loved family members,” but added the caveat that: “Some recollections may vary.”
Following the interview, the strained relationships between Harry and Meghan and the royals filled thousands of news reports and social media posts. These were heightened in 2022 when it was announced that the couple would travel to Britain to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne.
Their attendance at a national service of thanksgiving held at St. Paul’s Cathedral during their stay was highly anticipated as it marked the first major royal event they attended together with the other senior royals since the Oprah interview.
Uploaded to TikTok by user, meghmarkle, footage of Harry and Meghan’s striking entrance procession through St. Paul’s Cathedral at the start of the service has been viewed more than100,000 times on the platform so far.
In the clip, Meghan is seen taking her husband’s hand as they made their way to their seats, being escorted by a military official along the tiled aisle.
The duchess wore a bold all-white outfit, designed by the French couture house of Christian Dior. Her belted coat dress paid a nod to British tailoring with a back venting detail not dissimilar to classic raincoats, and to accessorize she wore a white sculpted hat and shoes that were also designed by Dior.
The duke and duchess took their seats in the second row of the congregation, behind working royals, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Princess Kate, Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla (then still the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall) were seated on the front row on the opposite side of the aisle.
Captioned “All eyes were on them oh they are so powerful,” the video has received in excess of 8,000 likes and numerous comments, many of which have praised the royal couple.
“Best couple out there,” wrote one fan.
“Meghan is killing that look,” posted another, with a further comment reading: “This was a powerful appearance. Like, they walked in there so strong. And Meghan looked iconic. Just wish things weren’t so frosty with them and the other royals.”
Harry and Meghan returned to the U.S. shortly after the service of thanksgiving and did not return to Britain until September that same year, where they were undertaking charity commitments at the time of Elizabeth’s death.
Meghan has not been back to the country since that visit, with Harry citing concerns for his wife’s safety amid his legal battle with the U.K. government over his state-funded security.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
