This incident took place during a reception hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth on March 5, 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales. The event brought together Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as their respective spouses, Catherine and Meghan, for a Buckingham Palace celebration in his honor.
In the video, it becomes apparent that Harry and Meghan were eager to enter the room ahead of William and Catherine, seemingly Meghan's idea. Prince William, aware of the situation, takes a step to the left, appearing visibly uncomfortable. It appears he may have been trying to shield this awkward situation from the cameras.
Comments on the video suggest that viewers found the interaction to be awkward and against protocol. One commenter pointed out that Harry and Meghan were not supposed to be in that room; instead, they were meant to wait in another room until the senior royals, including the queen, Charles, Camilla, William, and Catherine, had entered and viewed everything before the event officially commenced.
Another viewer noted that this was the 50th anniversary of Prince Charles's investiture, so it was clear that they should not have been in that particular room, only the Prince of Wales and those directly involved. As the video progresses, King Charles can be seen questioning why they were there and then kindly asking them to remain back. Palace staff subsequently guide them to another door, where they must wait for other senior royals to exit first.
This incident has been described as a cringe-worthy moment by viewers. Some expressed irony in the situation, highlighting that attempting to enter a room they weren't supposed to be in and being corrected on camera proved more embarrassing for Harry and Meghan than had they followed the protocol and waited with dignity.
Viewers shared mixed reactions, with some praising King Charles for his handling of the situation, commending him for not tolerating any breaches of protocol. Others questioned Harry's decision to allow Meghan to disregard the established protocol, expressing surprise at their entitled behavior on such a public stage.
Additionally, royal expert Angela Levin predicts that King Charles will invite Harry and Meghan to his 75th birthday celebrations, emphasizing that it's their decision if they choose to attend. Levin believes that Harry and Meghan will receive invitations, but not every family member may attend. She suggests that Harry could attend with his son Archie, as he is now old enough to participate in such events.
