Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may be back in Britain but they returned to a lukewarm welcome at best. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee on June 3, where they were were booed by onlookers as they entered and exited the church.
Meghan and Harry kept their composure and appeared to be mostly unphased by the boisterous crowd loudly opposing their mere presence. The couple held hands and half-heartedly smiled as the boos of spectators drowned out any cheers they were also getting. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marks the first time that Meghan and Harry have made a public appearance together in the U.K. since stepping down as royals in 2020.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Get BOOED By Crowd In London At St Paul’s Cathedral
Televised coverage of the event evidenced that the cheers were audibly overpowered by thunderous jeers to Meghan and Harry. In stark contrast, Prince William and Kate Middleton are universally beloved and they received resounding cheers of approval from the crowd.
While members of the royal family don’t usually receive such public displays of rejection, it comes as no surprise since Meghan and Harry are largely viewed as disloyal and untrustworthy. Not only did the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shock the world by abandoning the royal family, they also made majorly damning accusations against them.
Rhiannon Mills, commentator for Sky News, discussed the tension between The Sussexes and the royals during live on-air coverage at St Paul’s. “Consistently they have said how they love and respect the Queen…the fact it was suggested they did not tell her about their plans to step away from royal life I think was seen as an enormous snub to a woman that so many of us hold in such high regard,” she said.
Royal commenter Carole Malone predicted that Meghan and Harry would be in the receiving end of boos and sneers earlier this month after it was announced that they would not be welcome on the Buckingham Palace balcony for portions of the Platinum Jubilee, as they are no longer senior working royals. “It’s a good thing they won’t be on the balcony – it might have been the first time ever that a royal has been booed by the crowds,” she suggested.
“After careful consideration, the Queen has decided that this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance…will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen,” the Palace said in a statement, revealing plans to keep distance between Meghan and Harry and the rest of the royal family.
