‘Awkward’ moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal ally ‘steps back and turns away’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their official duties in 2020 – but a handful of Royal Family members kept in contact with the pair for some time

Fans have spotted an “awkward” moment when one of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s former royal allies “turned away and stepped back” from the pair.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – 39 and 43 respectively – stopped carrying out their official duties in 2020, when they relocated first to Canada and then to Montecito, California, where they now live with their two children. The pair have since spoken out about their time as working royals on numerous occasions, including in their very own Netflix documentary released in 2022.

The pair are not thought to be on speaking terms with most members of the Firm. However, Harry had always maintained a friendly relationship with his cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

But in a resurfaced clip from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, it appears the relationship between Eugenie and Harry may no longer be what it once was. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one fan wrote: “Eugenie turns away & steps back [from Meghan and Harry].”

They also pointed out Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, had a similar response. “Jack quickly adjusts his glasses to break eye contact. You don’t see Eugenie flying out to visit anymore.”

Others were quick to agree with the assessment. One wrote: “Jacks long stare at Harry was quite telling. No love lost there between those two.”

“I read [Meghan’s expression as being angry that she was ignored,” said another. “No one talked to her.”

It comes after Eugenie broke royal protocol with a sweet photo of her son. August Philip Hawke was born in February 2021, at which point the pair decided to announce the news in their own way.

New royal parents typically introduce their babies to the world on the steps outside the hospital, where they pose for photos. Instead, Eugenie and Jack uploaded a black and white photo of their first-born to Instagram, complete with three blue heart emojis.

August, nicknamed Augie, was born just before 9am at The Portland Hospital in London’s West End, weighing 8lbs 1oz.