Royal Drama Unfolds at Queen’s Funeral

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves in an awkward position during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral as they were seated in a corner, away from Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other prominent family members.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were positioned at the end of the second row next to Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapellimozzi, while William and Harry remained distantly separated by the church aisle due to their strained relationship in recent years.

In contrast, King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, and the newly titled Prince and Princess of Wales occupied the front pew, with William and Middleton sitting solemnly alongside their eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Notably absent was their youngest child, Prince Louis.

Across the aisle, Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, and Sarah Ferguson were also in attendance, while Prince Andrew sat in the front row between his brother, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne's husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence.

During the procession, Harry and Markle walked behind William and Middleton as they followed the Queen's coffin, with Harry unable to wear his military uniform as he mourned his grandmother's passing.

Despite not wearing his uniform, Harry paid tribute to the Queen by donning a black suit, while Markle elegantly matched Middleton's attire in a black dress and hat adorned with earrings gifted by the late monarch.

The couple, who relocated to California in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties, returned to the UK to grieve the Queen's death alongside William and Middleton following her passing at the age of 96 on September 8.

Harry, who rushed to be with the Queen before her death but arrived late, received the news of her passing just minutes before it was publicly announced.

This is not the first instance where Harry and Markle have distanced themselves from royal engagements, as they opted out of standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration and maintained a low profile during their recent visit.

In a revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle admitted to being unaware of the royal family's complexities before marrying Harry, claiming she never even researched him prior to their meeting.

However, a new report from InTouch suggests that Markle's past may have been more intertwined with the royal family than she let on.

Allegations surfaced that Markle harbored a crush on Prince William during her college years, with friends revealing her admiration for the royals and her aspirations to be part of the family.

Despite her initial interest in William, Markle redirected her affections towards Harry after his relationship with Middleton became official.

The tabloid further asserts that Markle waited until after her marriage to Harry to disclose her past feelings for William, a revelation that reportedly upset both Harry and Middleton.

Speculation surrounds the idea that had Markle pursued William instead, the dynamics within the royal family could have unfolded quite differently.