A lip reader has shed light on a tense moment between Prince Harry and Prince William during their final public appearance together before Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties.
The incident took place during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 — the couple’s last official event before moving to Canada and eventually settling in the United States.
Despite a long string of public engagements together as senior royals, this appearance marked a significant shift in their roles and relationships.
According to lip reader Jeremy Freeman, who spoke to The Daily Star, there was an icy exchange between the brothers at the ceremony.
Although they managed to maintain polite public decorum, the underlying tension was evident. As William approached Harry at the Abbey, he said a brief “Hello, Harry,” to which Harry responded with a simple “Hello.”
Meghan also greeted both William and his wife Catherine, though it appeared William initially didn’t notice her.
Immediately after, Harry turned to Meghan and made what Freeman claims was a sarcastic comment: “At least they acknowledged, unlike last time.” This remark likely alluded to previous instances where the couple felt snubbed by the royal family.
William, on his part, reportedly leaned over to Catherine and remarked on how the encounter had gone, allegedly saying: “That was executed well.”
He continued, “It’s quite good to connect instead of holding things back like always. I know it’s bad, I ought to have a word with him. He’ll shout and God knows what, but things’ll change, won’t it?”
This Commonwealth Day service has since been remembered as a particularly emotional moment in the saga of Harry and Meghan’s royal exit. Just a month later, the couple officially stepped down from their roles and began their new life in the U.S.
Royal historian and author Robert Lacey, in his book Battle of the Brothers, described the event as one that symbolically marginalized Harry and Meghan.
Unlike the year before, the couple were excluded from participating in “The Procession of The Queen” — a significant detail publicly noted in the service’s printed program.
Only Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles (now King), Camilla, William, and Catherine were listed for the procession.
Lacey explained that, as “junior royals,” Harry and Meghan were told to quietly make their way to their seats, much like other lesser-ranking members of the royal family, including Edward and Sophie Wessex.
This treatment left Harry visibly emotional, with some observers suggesting he was “on the verge of tears” and “angry” over the perceived demotion during his final appearance as a working royal.
Yet, in a rare moment of familial solidarity, William and Catherine reportedly made a subtle gesture of kindness.
According to Lacey, they chose to join Harry and Meghan where they were seated rather than proceeding ahead. This quiet move was interpreted as an effort to ease the emotional tension of the day.
“It was a small but sensitive gesture of peace,” Lacey noted. “Within minutes, both couples were seated side by side, awaiting the Queen and Prince Charles to walk down the aisle in formal procession.”
This appearance marked the end of an era — the last time Harry and Meghan appeared in an official capacity with the senior royal family.
The events of that day continue to be a poignant reminder of the strained dynamics and emotional weight surrounding the couple’s decision to leave their royal roles behind.
