Nearly two months after Prince Harry and Meghan said they want to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in London for what some are calling their “farewell tour.” But there is no guarantee their new life will give them the peace they say they want.
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Nearly two months after Prince Harry and Meghan’s seismic revelation that they want to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in London for what some are calling their “farewell tour.”
The “tour” offers an eclectic mix of events — from support of charitable endeavours to Harry officially opening a motor racing museum to their attendance on Monday at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.
There, much scrutiny will be placed on their appearance with other senior members of the Royal Family, including Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate.
“They are taking a huge step in giving up royal life — it is all Harry has known — and I would think that he in particular will have very mixed emotions” over the next few days, said royal biographer Penny Junor, author of Prince Harry: Brother Soldier Son.
On Thursday night, it was all smiles as Harry and Meghan attended the Endeavour Awards.
“One of the main thrusts of Harry’s work has been motivating injured ex-servicemen and women, and this is what the Endeavour Fund Awards are all about,” Junor said via email.
“Interestingly, they were set up by the charitable foundation he and Meghan used to share with William and Kate, but from which they broke away before leaving royal work entirely.”
Meghan is also expected to attend an event Sunday marking International Women’s Day.
“Meghan taking part in International Women’s Day is very much a reflection of her personal and strongly held interests,” said Junor.
This weekend’s events are widely thought to be their last official royal appearances before they step back from duties as senior members of the Royal Family on March 31.
Whether the events were chosen specifically for that or were in their royal diaries long before their decision to step back was announced isn’t clear.
“Their engagements are usually planned months in advance,” said Junor. “Either way, these are causes close to their hearts.”
The Commonwealth Service will see them at an event that is also very close to the Queen’s heart.
“Both Harry and Meghan were given really central roles within the Commonwealth by the Queen, and I think it’s important to her that if they’re going to be in the U.K., they turn up for this,” said Philip Murphy, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London.
Some of those roles will be given up. Others have been retained as the couple steps back from official duties but keeps some of their private charitable interests.
As much as there may be a sense of finality about the weekend’s events, there is also a sense that the Queen is leaving the door open for a return if they wish. The arrangements for stepping back include a review after 12 months.
“Clearly the way is being left open for future conversations concerning their role,” said Toronto-based royal author and historian Carolyn Harris.
“There have been a number of unexpected developments in the Royal Family in recent months and there may well be more going forward.”
One thing is more certain, however — it’s unlikely their new life, which has seen them settle on Vancouver Island, will rid them of something that had clearly been a difficulty for them.
“While they may be hoping that they will be able to lead a more private life in [the] future, so far there is no indication that the tabloids plan to leave them in peace,” said Junor.
Soft diplomacy on display
While the Royals may try to avoid any overt public displays of politics, they don’t shy away from soft diplomacy.
That’s been front and centre this week as William and Kate visited the Republic of Ireland, and will be at the heart of trips Prince Charles and his wife, C