Kate Middleton made a commendable decision to diffuse the tension sparked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit. There was apparently some behind-the-scenes drama during the Commonwealth Day service but the Duchess of Cambridge stepped up in accordance with Queen Elizabeth's wishes that they must be a united front.
According to Daily Mail, Prince Harry and Meghan were upset and emotional when they found out that they will not be part of the Queen's procession like last year. The Sussexes were told of the change in the program, where they have to be by their seats when the Queen arrives at Westminster Abbey.
To avoid any tension, the Cambridges apparently decided they would also not be joining the procession. Instead, Kate was said to have offered that she and Prince William could also wait in their seats for Her Majesty, as with the Sussexes.
The Cambridges' gesture might have helped appease the Sussex pair's feelings. The only problem was over 2,000 orders of service were already printed before the event. It had the original program indicating that Prince William and Kate are part of the main royal party while Prince Harry and Meghan are not. Thus, this led some royal journalists to wonder what really went on before the service.
Kate extended the olive branch despite reports indicating that she is actually feeling bad about losing Prince Harry. A close friend of the royals told Vanity Fair that Kate feels very sad that she, Prince Harry and Prince William are no longer a happy trio as before.
Another friend of Prince Harry and Meghan said in the same news outlet that things haven't been easy for all four royals, formerly dubbed by the public as The Fab Four. The friend said that the Cambridges and the Sussexes are both emotional.
In January, an insider told Us Weekly that Kate seems to be mourning her once close relationship to Prince Harry. The source claimed that the Duchess of Cambridge cried over her brother-in-law because she felt she will "never be close to him again."
The Commonwealth Day service was the final royal engagement for Prince Harry and Meghan. By April, the couple will be looking for other ventures and living in North America. During the service, many royal observers said that the brief family reunion appeared too awkward. Prince William and Kate looked cold while Prince Harry and Meghan looked tensed.
