Meghan Markle and Prince Harry news – live: Couple attend final royal engagement at Westminster Abbey
Duke and Duchess of Sussex to officially step down from royal roles on 31 March
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are attending their final official royal engagement before they step down as working members of the royal family before they step down from their roles on 31 March.
The Commonwealth Service is held every year on the second Monday of March, and is attended by heads of government and representatives from the 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
The occasion will be the last time Meghan and Prince Harry make a public appearance as working members of the royal family, before quitting their duties on 31 March.
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Now that Meghan and Prince Harry have taken part in their final royal engagement, their next step will be to officially step down as working members of the royal family.
This day will fall on 31 March, which has been widely dubbed "Megxit Day".
From this day, Meghan and Prince Harry will no longer use their HRH titles.
While the couple originally wanted to step down as senior royals, it was later decided that they would entirely cease from acting as working members of the royal family.
In February, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement unveiling how their plan on transitioning away from royal life from 31 March.
In a detailed explanation published on their sussexroyal.com website, the couple said that the royal family "respect and understand" their wish to lead a more independent life, where they will become “privately funded members of the royal family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests”.
They explained that they “do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any other iteration of the word ‘Royal’ in any territory” in the near future, including with regards to the development of their “new non-profit organisation”.
“As The Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to develop their non-profit organisation and plan for their future, we hope that you use this site as the source for factual information,” the statement concludes.
“In Spring 2020, their digital channels will be refreshed as they introduce the next exciting phase to you.”
According to Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English, Westminster Abbey enacted a policy for attendees of the Commonwealth Service not to shake hands with one another amid the coronavirus scare.
Following the coronavirus outbreak, people around the world have been coming up with different ways to greet one another in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
After the Commonwealth Service ended, Prince Harry was filmed greeting singer Craig David with an elbow bump.
Meghan's decision to wear an Emilia Wickstead outfit for the Commonwealth Service is intriguing, given her history with the fashion designer.
Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's nuptials in May 2018, Wickstead publicly criticised the wedding dress worn by the duchess.
The gown was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female creative director for Givenchy.
Wickstead claimed that the dress was "identical" to one of her own designs, stating: "Apparently a lot of commentators were saying, 'It's an Emilia Wickstead dress.'"
The fashion designer also stated that she believed the dress was ill-fitted, saying: "Her wedding dress was quite loose."
Following her criticism of the Duchess of Sussex's Givenchy wedding dress, Wickstead later backtracked on her comments, saying: "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex looked absolutely beautiful on her wedding day and I have the utmost admiration and respect for her."
Over the past few days, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken part in several engagements in the lead-up to their departure as working members of the royal family.
On Thursday night, the couple attended the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London.
At the weekend, they were in attendance at a military music festival at the Royal Albert Hall, and last week the duchess visited a school in Essex in celebration of Sunday's International Women's Day.
The Duchess of Sussex crouches down to speak to children at Westminster Abbey as she and the Duke of Sussex leave the Commonwealth Service.
The young wellwishers were handing out bouquets of flowers to members of the royal family.
The duke and duchess appeared in high spirits as they bid farewell to the crowds, ending their final royal engagement.
PA Wire
Prior to the Commonwealth Service, royal biographer Penny Junor told Reuters that she believed members of the royal family would act in a civilised manner towards one another for the event.
"I imagine everybody will be on absolutely best behaviour," Ms Junor said. "But goodness knows what they will all be thinking privately."
The author, who wrote the 2004 book Prince Harry: Brother, Soldier, Son, previously speculated that Prince Harry may find it difficult to leave the UK.
Meghan and Prince Harry's journey dates back to July 2016, when they were reportedly first introduced by a friend.
Photographs of the couple were published in the press in November that year, and a year later they announced their engagement.
The couple were married in Windsor in May 2018, and they welcomed their son Archie the following year.
To take a look back at a timeline of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's relationship, click the link below.
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