When Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away on April 9, 2021, at age 99, his funeral was held on April 17.
Meghan Markle, then pregnant with Lilibet, did not attend, a decision that raised many eyebrows. According to royal biographer Tom Bower, Queen Elizabeth II privately remarked to aides: “Thank goodness Meghan is not coming.”
Tensions Heightened by Oprah Interview
Just weeks before Philip’s death, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey in a highly publicized interview. The couple detailed why they left royal life and accused the monarchy of mistreatment.
The timing was seen as deeply unfortunate, as Philip was hospitalized in February and underwent a medical procedure in March. Despite calls to delay the broadcast, the interview aired on March 7 in the US and March 8 in the UK.
Prince Philip reportedly described Harry’s decision to go public as “madness.” Brand and culture expert Nick Ede later noted the impact of their choice: “The timing was bad… The perception of the pair as being ruthless was obviously increased due to the timing and the ageing of both the prince but also the queen as well.”
A Strategic but Costly PR Move
Ede explained that the Oprah interview was their “golden opportunity” to share their side of the story. “They did what they wanted to do with the maximum PR affect,” he said, but added that hindsight shows they could have been more cautious.
“Meghan’s words especially have been scrutinised and her comments fact checked… people are reflecting on the interview and picking up on what was said or wasn’t said.”
The Controversial Funeral Wreath
When Harry attended his grandfather’s funeral, a colorful wreath from him and Meghan was placed on display, accompanied by a handwritten note from Meghan. However, their team also released a press statement explaining the symbolic meaning of the flowers.
Critics accused the Sussexes of turning the moment into a publicity opportunity. Ede called the move “in extremely bad taste,” adding, “They wanted to show that they cared but instead it looked like they were almost benefiting from the funeral.”
Continued Absences from Royal Events
The scrutiny did not end there. In March 2022, a memorial service for Philip was held, but Harry and Meghan again did not attend. Reports claimed security concerns were the reason, but royal expert Robert Jobson suggested Harry’s absence could further strain ties with his family.
Ede commented that after openly criticizing their relatives to millions, Harry and Meghan had “no way to go” without appearing hypocritical. He added: “The royal watchers would have been appalled if Meghan had attended the funeral… to attend would have looked terrible on her but also would have indicated that the royal family accepted her and Harry’s behaviour, which they didn’t.”
Final Thoughts
Meghan Markle’s absence from Prince Philip’s funeral, combined with the timing of the Oprah interview and subsequent decisions, cemented public and royal perceptions of the Sussexes as outsiders. For many, these moments marked the point where reconciliation with the royal family became increasingly difficult.