LONDON -- A BBC news anchor interviewing a royal 鈥渆xpert鈥� asked very seriously: 鈥淗ow will history judge Harry and Meghan鈥檚 last public appearance?鈥�
The question was certainly overblown, but a telling indication of how people feel now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have cut ties. Opinions range from pity to full-throated support for a young man who always looked more comfortable in soldier鈥檚 camouflage than a tuxedo. An angry young man at that, who has now pulled off a daring great escape.
I thought of Vera Lynn who stirred a nation and its beleaguered army during Second World War.
鈥淲e'll meet again,鈥� she sang. 鈥淒on鈥檛 know where, don鈥檛 know when, But I know we鈥檒l meet again some sunny day.鈥�
Mostly, people seem to feel sorry for the Queen, enduring yet another troubling period in her family鈥檚 turbulent affairs.
The moment chosen for this symbolic family parting was Commonwealth Day, one of the most important events in her calendar. It was always thought that Harry and Meghan would take over many of the Queen鈥檚 Commonwealth duties in her absence. It was not to be.
Normally, the royals would walk in a grand procession down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, but even that was complicated by the new reality. Harry and Meghan were excluded from the procession, and to alleviate any embarrassment, Prince William and Kate were also excluded.
Royal watchers considered that a telling development. Harry and Meghan arrived smiling and relaxed and didn鈥檛 really seem to mind. Anybody watching for a sense of tension would have been disappointed.
It all went off as most royal events do, full of pomp and tradition and grace. The only awkwardness had to do with the spread of coronavirus, as royals and guests did their best to avoid shaking hands. Harry touched forearms with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
And then it was over, their last public appearance as senior working royals. They are still Duke and Duchess, but it鈥檚 a title that seems mostly hollow, as long as they choose exile. Will it work? They certainly have the potential to make a lot of money, if that鈥檚 what their decision was all about. It seems unlikely.
For the time being, they are Canada鈥檚 to deal with, or as I鈥檝e been told a number of times, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all yours now.鈥�
Tracy Parker happened to be around Buckingham Palace as Harry and Meghan were saying their last goodbye. She鈥檚 from the north of England.
鈥淓verybody thinks Meghan has taken him away from us,鈥� she told my colleague Jill Macyshon, 鈥渂ut that鈥檚 not鈥檚 true. He鈥檚 his own person. He could have said no.鈥�
And it may only be temporary.
鈥淭his is a transition period they鈥檙e entering,鈥� says Chris Ship, the royal correspondent for British broadcaster ITV News. 鈥淚f it works out, fine, they鈥檒l stick with it. If it doesn鈥檛, the door鈥檚 open. They鈥檒l have them back.鈥�
Cue Vera Lynn on a sunny day.
