Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s final UK days were marked by icy stares and distant family ties.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s final days in the UK were anything but warm. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who attended Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey five years ago, reportedly felt deeply alienated by the Royal Family before their highly publicised exit.

According to royal author Robert Lacey in Battle of Brothers, tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals was painfully evident that day. Observers noted Prince Harry’s tense and unsmiling expression, with some speculating he was holding back tears. Meanwhile, Meghan flashed her best TV smile, seemingly determined to maintain appearances.

Lacey further revealed that when Prince William arrived and took his seat near Harry, the brothers barely acknowledged each other. Their once-close bond appeared fractured beyond repair. As the ceremony progressed, Harry’s mood darkened, reinforcing the emotional distance between him and the rest of the family.

In his Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the Duke of Sussex reflected on the moment, saying, “I felt really distant from the rest of my family… It looked cold. But it also felt cold.”

Their last official engagement in the UK before stepping back from royal duties was, in many ways, a final confirmation of their isolation. It was a day of forced smiles, silent tensions, and emotions barely concealed behind royal decorum