Brits’ surprising reaction to Meghan joining Harry, Will and Kate
The moment William and Kate stepped out of the same car as Harry and Meghan instantly had the world talking.
Shocked Brits are praising the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, for stepping back into the fold after the controversial couple appeared alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, for an impromptu walkabout following their grandmother’s death.
The brothers and their wives unexpectedly stepped out of a car together on Saturday afternoon local time to meet mourners of Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle.
Polling has consistently shown Brits do not approve of Harry and Meghan amid their public split from the rest of the royal family. The latest YouGov poll published in July showed the Sussexes only held a 34 per cent and 25 per cent popularity rating, respectively.
In June, the couple were booed after leaving a national service of thanksgiving for the Queen.
But it seems their move over the weekend has earned them some genuine approval.
Speaking with locals at Green Park in London the morning after “The Fab Four” reunion, news.com.au found an overwhelmingly positive sentiment toward Harry and Meghan being back alongside the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
Grandmother Audrey Mitchell from Sussex said just like her, the Queen loved her grandchildren and it is what she would have wanted.
“I think it might be the beginning of something good again hopefully. It’s sad it has had to happen this way,” she said.
Another woman from Essex, Clare Crome, admitted she had disliked Meghan but was impressed by yesterday’s act.
“I was in two minds when I first saw them getting out the car together because I was in camp of not being over keen on Meghan because of what she has said done with the royal family, but once I saw them all together yesterday I thought ‘no, that’s good’,” she said.
“When you have a crisis like this there is nothing more you need than your family. I’m all for it now and it’s lovely to see them back together again.”
Her daughter Megan Crome, a Meghan supporter, said it would have nice if they could have had a reunion sooner, before the Queen died.
Claire Olivero from Gibraltar, who like most was surprised to see the four royals together, said it was an important time to show unity in the family.
“It was nice to see the brothers together, especially after all the hassle between them,” she said.
Her daughter Laura added: “Even in the King’s speech mentioning every member of his family was lovely to see them come together and forget about any conflict.”
In his first speech as King Charles III on Friday night, the new monarch announced Prince William and Kate were the new Prince and Princess of Wales, and expressed his “love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
While Mrs Olivero was supportive of Meghan’s appearance at the walkabout, she did add: “Perhaps Meghan should keep quiet”.
Those thoughts were shared by Hannah Nyhus from London.
“I think they’ve (Harry and William) put their differences aside for their grandma and hopefully grief will bring them back closer together,” she said.
“The two boys should talk on their own and clear the air, and stop giving interviews to the media in America.”
Brits who were happy to see the four royals back together did doubt the reunion meant all was well again.
“It was a big surprise, I just think it was nice the sad situation had brought together some happiness within the family – I don’t know how it will play out though,” Mark Rees-Williams from South Wales said.
Lisa Lottes from London said: “They did it for the right reasons yesterday and it was lovely to see but I don’t think they’ll ever properly reconcile.”
Marilyn Denham from Northamptonshire said while it was “a shock and nice” to see the couples get out of the one car, it didn’t mean everything was “magically better”.
“But it looks on the way to improving,” she added.
A few people surveyed suggested they had more critical thoughts about Meghan’s appearance alongside the new Prince and Princess of Wales, but declined to elaborate on the record.
The ‘Fab Four’ reunion
The Sussexes joined the William and Kate as they walked down the driveway from Windsor Castle, west of London on Saturday.
Harry and Meghan held hands as crowds initially cheered.
The four then went to talk to wellwishers and look at flowers from those who had come to remember the Queen.
They also read some of the myriad of tributes to the late monarch.
It was the first public appearance by the couples since the Queen’s passing on Thursday.
The last time the foursome undertook anything similar was during the Sussexes’ final turn as working royals in March 2020.
A source told the Telegraph, that William had “invited” the Sussexes on Saturday because he “thought it was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family.”
Meghan and Harry live in California but were in the UK on a tour focusing on their charity ventures.
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It was reported the couple rejected an invitation to join Charles at his home on the Scottish estate Birkhall and would not meet William and Kate.
Harry and Meghan left royal life in March 2020 and in an explosive interview with Oprah the following year, Harry claimed his dad had stopped taking his calls as tensions escalated over the decision to step down as working royals.
Less than a fortnight before the Queen’s death Meghan had given an interview to New York-based magazine The Cut where she had suggested that the Harry had “lost” his father.
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