However, things have changed in their relationship since Meghan entered the picture. Meghan and Harry attended a carol service at St. Luke's Chelsea in support of the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which honors a school friend of Harry and William who tragically died in a car crash in 2002. During the annual carol concert in 2018, Harry gave an unexpected sermon about period poverty, which some found to be an odd choice for the aristocratic audience.
Friends of Harry believe that Meghan influenced him to focus on period poverty, as it seemed out of character for him to address this topic at the church's aristocratic gathering. Harry's involvement in activism had grown after his marriage to Meghan, and it appeared that he might not have written the entire speech himself. While period poverty is an important cause, some felt that it was not the right time or place for such a speech.
The fallout from this event strained Harry's relationship with the Van Straubenzee family, and it's reported that they limited contact with the Sussexes afterward. Harry's best friend, Charlie Van Straubenzee, reportedly has no intention of inviting Meghan and Harry to their upcoming memorial service. It seems their presence is considered undesirable for such significant events.
