The extra day on Monday – established to mark Queen Elizabeth’s funeral – was not planned and the apparent family reunion did not play out in front of the cameras either. The temporary return of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan to Britain has sparked chatter in pubs like this one across the country. “You can see he values his family,” Wendell McCalla said after seeing pictures of Harry, the Duke of Sussex, joining other royals at memorial services for the Queen. The family, united in grief, is once again under the microscope over their handling of the couple in the past, as fresh questions arise about how Harry and Meghan will be treated under a new King. “I’m all for Harry and Meghan,” said Amy Brydon, a primary school teacher sitting on the street patio. The Duke of Sussex’s pub in south London shares a name with Prince Harry but has no pictures of the royal on its walls. (Adrian Di Virgilio/CBC) But across the UK, a vocal section of society remains adamant that the couple disrespected the institution. For them, Harry and Meghan are no longer welcome here. “I’m not sure why they’re back, to be honest,” said Joe Fidders, a construction worker. “I think they had to stay there,” referring to the couple’s California home.
Apparent melting in relationships
Harry’s participation in a guard of honor from the Queen’s grandchildren on Saturday was the latest in a series of important roles for him since Elizabeth’s death. He and his wife have hardly ever appeared in public with other family members since stepping down from royal duties in 2020 and moving to the US The couple were in the UK in June for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations of 70 years on the throne, but kept a relatively low profile. WATCHES | William and Harry lead grandchildren’s vigil for Queen:
Princes William and Harry lead grandchildren’s vigil for Queen Elizabeth
All eight of the late British monarch’s grandchildren stood in silent vigil by her casket on Saturday—with Prince William at the head of the casket and Prince Harry at the foot. Royal watchers wonder if the current approach will be for good or if it’s all for show. Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair’s royal editor, told CBC News that it was yet to be seen whether the apparent thaw in relations marked “what I think everyone was hoping for … a long-lasting and genuine reunion between Harry and his family.” Last weekend, Harry and Meghan made a surprise public appearance alongside Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate. The group once known as the Fab Four attended floral tributes to the Queen in Windsor and thanked the crowds lining the street. WATCHES | The ‘Fab Four’ reunite at Windsor Castle:
William and Kate, Harry and Meghan greet supporters at Windsor Castle
William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were joined by Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Windsor Castle to view the sea of floral tributes left by the public in honor of Queen Elizabeth. British tabloids, notorious for scathing coverage of Harry and Meghan, published analysis by a body language expert and he claimed The Duchess of Sussex’s hair and makeup delayed the walk by an hour. On Wednesday, Harry walked alongside his brother as the family followed the Queen’s coffin in a procession to Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state. The appearance was in stark contrast to the distance – physical and emotional – that observers noticed between the siblings at Prince Philip’s funeral last year. Prince Harry appears between Prince William and their cousin Peter Phillips during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London on Wednesday. (Vadim Ghirda/Pool via Reuters) William and Harry are said to have had a row over the younger brother’s relationship with Meghan, an American actress, as well as the Sussexes’ role in the family. Charles mentioned the couple by name in his first speech as King last week, but found a way to emphasize that they are no longer considered “working” royals. “I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad,” Charles said in a televised address to Britain and the Commonwealth. Pauline Maclaran, professor of marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London, said if the King could find a way to embrace the couple, they could help modernize the institution. “In many ways, Harry and Meghan are actually what the Royal Family needs to move beyond this rather staid image … which is at risk of having more with Charles,” he said. “They really need to show more inclusiveness and more dynamic thinking.” Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave after paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Hall, where she is in state, in London on Wednesday. (Emilio Morenatti/Reuters)
Tentative media relationship
Harry’s thoughts on his family and upbringing were expected to make headlines when he published his memoirs in the autumn. The queen’s death is now mentionted to have delayed the publication of the book until the new year. Harry and Meghan caused a stir in Britain after speaking candidly about family matters in an unforgettable interview with Oprah Winfrey last year. Meghan specifically said their son’s skin color was a topic of discussion in the family. Most recently, Meghan criticized Britain for a Profile in which a Lion King cast member was quoted as comparing the couple’s wedding to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. The Daily Mail mentionted the anti-apartheid champion’s grandson hit back at the remarks. William and Kate, Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, view flowers and tributes to Queen Elizabeth in Windsor, England, on September 10. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) In recent days, however, the tabloids appear to have largely observed an unofficial peace deal with the couple during Britain’s period of national mourning. Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspaper, which has been among the most aggressive in its coverage, even announced on Friday’s front page a plan for Harry to wear his ceremonial robes at a vigil for the Queen despite being stripped of his honorary of the military. titles. One of the few criticisms has surrounded Harry and Meghan’s arm as they left Westminster Hall after a service for the Queen. “I would take their display of affection any time, any day over the supposed cold, false superiority of the monarchy,” said author and activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who has become known in the British media as one of the couple’s most vocal defenders . . Prince Harry and Meghan walk as a procession carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrives at Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to lie in state. (Phil Noble/Reuters) Several social media users pointed out that Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall and her husband were also seen holding hands, but were not criticized for it. Mos-Shogbamimu said criticism of Meghan is usually rooted in racism and sexism. “Women like me – black women and ethnic minority women – we deal with this in our lives,” she said. “It’s just growing worldwide on Meghan Markle.” Maclaran, the marketing expert, pointed out something else entirely. “They’re not that popular here because [Britons] I feel very protective of the Queen,” she said. “Once this interim phase is over, will they feel so protective of Charles? I doubt it.” You can watch live coverage of the Queen’s funeral from 5am. ET on Monday on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, CBCNews.ca and the CBC News app. At noon ET, the show will turn to Ottawa for a national memorial service. The CBC News Network will broadcast the funeral at 7 p.m. ET. CBC Radio One’s live coverage of the funeral will begin at 5:30 a.m. ET, which will also be available on the CBC Listen app.
