Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal journey - in pictures
The couple are bidding final farewell as official members of ‘The Firm’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making their final appearance as senior royals today before quitting the UK and become financially independent.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, alongside the Queen, Prince William and Kate, and Prince Charles and Camilla.
The engagement marks the first time that the couple have appeared in public alongside the rest of the Royal Family since revealing their plan to step down from royal duties - an announcement made without consulting Buckingham Palace. It is not clear when the family will next be seen together.
“It will be fascinating to see how it plays out,” royal biographer Penny Junor told Sky News. “I imagine everybody will be on absolutely best behaviour. But goodness knows what they will all be thinking privately.”
The Royal Family were reportedly “hurt” and “deeply disappointed” by Harry and Meghan’s decision to call it quits and by the way they announced the news.
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But the Sussexes have justified their decision in interviews and on their website, explaining that they want a “more peaceful life” away from media scrutiny.
“For me, and for my wife, of course there’s a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue,″ Harry told ITV’s Tom Bradby last year. ”I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum.″
The couple will not use their HRH titles from 31 March, and will no longer be allowed to use the word “royal” in their branding.
