Senior Royals Attend Commonwealth Service Amidst Protests

The 2023 Commonwealth service was a peaceful event for the British royals, despite protests outside Westminster Abbey.

Brittany of the Royal News Network reported that the protest was super loud, but it did not affect the service.

It was great to see the senior working royals together in one place, especially since this was the first senior royal gathering since Prince Edward was given the Edinburgh Dukedom.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, looked amazing, as did Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

The Commonwealth service was the second one since the pandemic died down, and a certain couple did not attend for the second year in a row, which relieved the royals who attended this year’s service.

Everything went off without a hitch, and we even saw Catherine taking a subtle swipe at Meghan for trying to nab one of her favourite designers.

Kate opted for a trendy floral jacket and matching skirt from one of her favourite designers, Erdem Muraliglu, while Meghan had previously fallen in love with his clothing during her acting career.

Reports emerged earlier this year that Meghan and Kate were both fans of Erdem’s designs, but Kate was prioritised over the Duchess of Sussex by Erdem.

This reportedly didn’t go down well with the Sussexes after Kate was handed the latest designs, with Meghan said to have been fuming that Kate wasn’t even the Queen.

Meghan didn’t publicly wear the designer until March 2019, almost a year after she officially joined the royal family.

Before the ceremony, 2,000 orders of service had been distributed detailing that William and Kate would enter the Abbey with the main royal party.

However, there was no mention of Harry and Meghan being in the procession.

This reportedly led to William and Kate not walking in the procession in an attempt to resolve the issue, despite the orders of service stating otherwise.

In his book Revenge, Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, royal expert Tom Bower claimed a monumental argument took place after palace officials decided to publicly humiliate Harry and Meghan.

He wrote, “reality hit two days later on the 9th of March.

A monumental argument blew up after Harry was told that he and Meghan couldn’t join the procession through Westminster Abbey.

Although the order of service listed Harry and Meghan walking behind the Queen, palace officials had revised their decision.

Suspicious about the Sussexes, they decided to publicly humiliate them.”

Harry was told that, having stepped down from royal duties, he and Meghan would sit and wait with the congregation.

By then, they were keenly aware of Kate and William’s antagonism.

William had not offered a brotherly welcome, and Kate was outright distant towards a sister-in-law.

Eventually, in order to end the dispute, William and Kate agreed they too would wait with Harry and Meghan.

As the members of the royal family filed into the Abbey, the frayed relationship could not be concealed.

Erdem’s designs are known for their fearless approach to patterns, leading to some critique.

Some have referred to his designs as chintzy, and rumours swirled that Erdem decided against making a coronation outfit for Meghan.

The Sussexes were President and Vice President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and pledged to work with the 54 nations.

However, they were stripped of their positions as President by the late Queen in February 2021.

Commonwealth Day 2020 was their final royal engagement before they quit being senior royals and left to start a new life in North America.

In conclusion, the Commonwealth service was a successful event for the senior working royals, despite protests outside Westminster Abbey.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, took a subtle swipe at Meghan for trying to nab one of her favourite designers, but the event was otherwise peaceful.

The absence of a certain couple was a relief for the royals who attended this year’s service, and everything went off without a hitch.