Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Last Royal Outing Was 5 Years Ago. Here’s What ReallyWent Down: 'It Felt Cold'

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London.Photo:Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Meghan MarkleandPrince Harrymade their final engagement as working royals at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration five years ago.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recounted the drama that went on behind the scenes in their record-breaking 2022 Netflix documentary,Harry & Meghan.

“The first time that we saw the other members of the family was in public at Westminster Abbey,” Meghan recalled.

“I felt really distant from the rest of my family, which was interesting because so much of how they operate is about what it looks like, rather than what it feels like,” he continued. “And it looked cold. But it also felt cold.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London.Dan Kitwood/Getty

Harry and Meghan sat behind William and Kate at thechurch service, and next to the Earl and Countess of Wessex. As William and Kate took their seats in the front row, Meghan gave a little wave as she and Harry smiled and said hello to the couple.

Queen Elizabeth leads the then-Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020.PHIL HARRIS/POOL/AFP via Getty

On Monday, March 10, members of the royal family, includingKing Charles,Queen Camilla,Kate MiddletonandPrince William, gathered at Westminster Abbey in London for the traditionalCommonwealth Day Service. The event celebrated the voluntary network of 56 nations, with the King serving as its ceremonial head. This marked the first time King Charles, 76, and Princess Kate, 43, attended since 2023, as both had missed the service the previous year due as they bothunderwent treatment for cancer. The occasion also coincided with the fifth anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s final royal engagement.

In this week’sexclusive PEOPLE cover story, the Duchess of Sussex reflects on the significant changes of the past five years.

“Five years ago Archie was only 8 or 9 months old, so my life has changed so much,” Meghan tells PEOPLE, recounting her motherhood journey: welcoming a newborn, being pregnant while raising a toddler and now raising bothPrince ArchieandPrincess Lilibet. “Anyone who has children will tell you, it’s a huge evolution as a woman during that time.”

As she looks ahead to the next five or even 10 years, the Duchess of Sussex is open to what’s to come.

“Can you imagine? This is just the beginning. Life is full of surprises,” she says. “And my gosh, in 10 years, Archie will be driving!”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex photographed in Montecito, California, in March 2024.

With so many milestones ahead, Meghan says her goal is to stay in the moment.

“I’m just trying to embrace every single day,” she says, amid the launch of her lifestyle brandAs everand Netflix seriesWith Love, Meghan,which premiered on March 4.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have put down roots and found their groove in California, settling in Meghan’s home state after announcing their intentions to step back from their royal roles in January 2020. The decision was finalized following what’s now known as the “Sandringham Summit,” and Queen Elizabeth released arare and emotional statementto relay the plan for the future.

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” she said then.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020 in London, England.Phil Harris - WPA Pool/Getty

“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”

It was determined then that Prince Harry and Meghan’s step back would be finalized on March 31, 2020, and mark the start of a one-year transitional period as they fledged out their next chapter.

They traveled back to the U.K. from Canada (where they had been staying) during the first week of that March for their final royal outings and visits to their patronages, and the Duchess of Sussex revealed in the 2022 Netflix docuseriesHarry & Meghanwhy she decided to weara bright parade of shadesduring the whirlwind week.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend The Endeavor Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5, 2020 in London.Samir Hussein/WireImage

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“Until that last week in the U.K.I rarely wore color,” said Meghan, echoing a sentiment she expressed in an earlier episode of the series. “I never wanted to upstage or ruffle any feathers, so I just tried to blend in. But I wore a lot of color that week. I thought: ‘Well, let’s just look like a rainbow.’ "

“It was our opportunity to go out with a bang, to be honest,” added Harry.

source: people.com