Royal expert recounts awkward moment with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
A seasoned journalist recently recounted an intriguing encounter with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a flight that took place shortly after their highly publicized marriage in 2018. This incident occurred as the couple was returning from their 16-day royal tour across Australasia, a trip that was notable not only for its diplomatic engagements but also for the personal milestones it included, such as the announcement of Meghan’s pregnancy right before the tour commenced.
Valentine Low, a former royal correspondent and author known for his insights into the lives of the British royal family, shared the details of this memorable experience on the latest episode of A Right Royal Podcast. He described how he, along with other members of the media, found themselves in a somewhat awkward situation with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aboard the flight, as per Reports Daily Express.
“We were flying from Tonga back to Sydney. And often on these tours, there comes a point towards the end, when the royal might come back to the back of the plane and have a chat with us off the record, you know, not for printing, but it’s a way of making bonds. It’s a way of keeping us sweet. It’s a way of having informal contact,” Valentine told hosts Andrea Caamano, Emmy Griffiths, and Hello Royal editor Emily Nash.
The author went on revealing: “And we were promised that he or they would come to the back of the plane, and it didn’t happen. “It didn’t happen and this was a four or five-hour flight, ‘When’s this gonna happen? Then we were buckling up for the descent and we landed. And it hadn’t happened.”
Valentine revealed: “And only after we landed, they came back into the back of the plane. And Harry was slightly in front of Meghan, she was slightly behind him. And she didn’t say much. She did make some strange remarks about us wanting to get back for our Sunday lunch. And it was completely bizarre.
“But it’s what he said that was memorable. “He said ‘Thanks very much for coming, even though you weren’t invited.’ And we thought, ‘What? ‘”. Royal commentator Valentine described Harry’s comments to him as being “rude”.
The tour itself was a significant event for Harry and Meghan, marking their first major international journey as a married couple. The announcement of their impending parenthood had added an extra layer of excitement to the trip, capturing the attention of both the public and the press. As the couple traveled across multiple countries, engaging with diverse communities and participating in various official events, they were constantly under the scrutiny of the global media.
According to Low, the atmosphere on the flight back was tense and filled with unspoken words. The media, tasked with covering the tour and delivering updates to the world, were naturally eager to observe and interact with the couple during the flight. However, the dynamics aboard the aircraft highlighted the complex relationship between the Sussexes and the press. Low’s account suggests a palpable sense of unease, possibly due to the pressures of the intense public and media focus that had accompanied the couple throughout their tour.