Louise Roberts: Meghan Markle could have used Prince Phillip’s funeral for good

One of the most significant presences at Prince Philip’s funeral wasn’t even there, but Meghan Markle could still have taken a few steps to soothe royal feelings, writes Louise Roberts.

Amid the splendour and exquisite historical detail of Prince Philip’s funeral service, a subtle battle was being waged.

The jewels and clothing were intentionally downplayed. Gaudy and showy behaviour was off limits despite it being one of those superbly bright English spring days when the grey sky mercifully lifts.

And there’s no doubt the Royal wives — and now the world’s most ­revered widow, Queen Elizabeth II — revealed where the lines are drawn via a war of the Roses and the Brooches.

The message for Meghan of Montecito was this: Do your worst, but it won’t stick. They don’t call us the Teflon Firm for nothing.

The Queen was forced to sit alone at the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip. Picture: Jonathan Brady/AFP

The most significant presence at the funeral besides the Queen and the late Prince was Ms Markle, conspicuous by her absence.

Ten years ago a requiem for the Queen’s husband, her shadow for life, could not have been imagined under these circumstances.

But that’s how things are now.

Tell me your heart didn’t skip a beat when Her Majesty, looking weighed down by grief, carefully exited her Bentley and walked towards the Dean of Windsor on the porch of the chapel, her handbag beside her.

By all accounts, Meghan has loathed being compared to her sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge. She doesn’t want to share the spotlight with anyone.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was not in attendance at the funeral.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during the funeral of Prince Philip. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

But as classy and inscrutable Kate soars, so does the determination for Meghan to stay relevant.

Early on, tiny hints of tension and victory began to trickle into the narrative of sorrow and uncertainty as the monarch’s next chapter began.

The top billing bouquet should have been the white lilies, roses, freesias, wax flowers, sweet peas and jasmine on the Prince’s casket.

It was a simply blooming tribute by Her Majesty, a note tucked within the petals on her monogrammed stationery which appeared to say In Loving Memory as well as Lilibet, a childhood nickname the Duke used as a term of endearment in their long marriage.

One last love letter from his wife. A woman burying her husband.

It bore more than a passing resemblance to the note addressed to Mummy from Harry himself nestled in the white rose and lilies on the coffin of Diana 24 years ago.

The coffin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is laid onto a modified Land Rover before his funeral. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

And just below the Queen’s left collarbone was the diamond brooch she wore when Harry wed Meghan. A gesture of kindness.

It would have been stylish for Meghan to send the Queen’s favourite flowers. But no.

Friends meanwhile briefed the media that the couple went to great fuss to source the native flower of Greece for a deceased grandfather-in-law who abhorred fuss.

Why did we need an explanation that Meghan was not travelling to the UK for the funeral apart from the obvious that it is a health risk to fly when you are so heavily pregnant?

She wanted to come but was keen to avoid being the centre of attention. That ship has well and truly sailed.

Indeed why did we need to know that Operation Sussex Flowers had been underway for their wreath when other floral tributes by more senior members of the family were quietly ordered and laid in the chapel in a most apolitical gesture?

Prince Harry and Prince William walking together after the funeral service for Prince Philip. Picture: BBC

Like a press release, the public was briefed that the locally-sourced blooms included the national flower of Greece, Acanthus mollis (Bear’s breeches) and sea holly (Eryngium) to represent the Royal Marines.

I would argue that the Duke’s happiest time was probably not spent in Greece.

But back to those blooms. Let’s not forget the nod to gratitude and everlasting love — somewhat in short supply since their explosive tell all with Oprah — plus rosemary for remembrance and June roses for what would have been Philip’s century on earth. If the aim is to say it with flowers, as the old advertising maxim encourages, then it was dial tone at the other end.

But surely the most stylish and effective turn was the effortless manoeuvring by luminous Kate to get William and Harry together in public.

The favourable optics were something Meghan could only dream of after making her savage feelings ­towards her in-laws well known.

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was a notable absentee at Prince Phillip’s funeral ... but was there in spirit. Artwork: Terry Pontikos

While watching them emerge from the pews, I found myself egging on William and Harry, wanting them to catch up and chat.

Kate began talking to Harry and then waited for him to catch up. The chauffeured cars were waved on, masks were torn off and the Three Musketeers were together again.

Then — with no back or elbow prodding required — the Peacemaker in Pearls slowed her walk, melted away and allowed the brothers to naturally fold in together as they moved up Chapel Hill to the State Apartments of Windsor Castle.

Has William had the opportunity to ask his brother why he did that interview? We’ll probably never know. Also, it was the first time for Charles with both sons for more than a year.

And would the brothers have walked in lock-step together if the other royal consort Meghan had been there in person to engineer the ­departure?

Unlikely. And why if the goal in airing her Truth was to in fact punish her in-laws, they have moved on.

Maybe it’s Meghan who should now take to wearing pearls, worn to denote tears in a tradition that dates back to Roman times.