Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle returning to the United Kingdom for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II has generated mixed reactions on social media.
The pair had been on a whistlestop visit to Europe when the news broke of the Queen’s ill health on Thursday afternoon.
The longest-serving monarch died aged 96 on September 8, 2022.
Prince Harry rushed to Balmoral from Germany, where he was promoting the next host city of the Invictus Games Dusseldorf, but arrived following the death of her Majesty.
Over the weekend, Markle and Harry reunited with the Prince and Princess of Wales to pay tribute to the Queen outside Windsor Castle.
The gathering marked the first time the Sussexes appeared publicly with William and Kate since March 2020, when they were photographed together for Commonwealth Day.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a short service for the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday.
The service lasted for 20 minutes and it was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.
Afterward, the couple left hand-in-hand as they walked behind Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Before the service, William and Harry walked together behind their grandmother’s casket in a procession through London, while Meghan made her way in a car with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward’s wife.
Meanwhile, Kate rode with Queen Camilla, King Charles’ wife — with the Queen’s death, they are now the two highest-ranking women in the royal family as Queen Consort and Princess of Wales.
Meanwhile, some netizens are not happy to receive the news of the Sussexes arrival, as some have taken to Twitter to air their grievances with various hashtags; #MeghanMarkle GoHome #GoHomeHarryTheTraitor” #GoHomeHarryAndMeghan
A tweep, Lleigh Laura: “Meghan Markle is not being judged based on her race but her behavior. This throwing of the race card is getting old because I’m mixed. What she & Harry did at the Oprah interview when his grandad was dying was a stab in the Queen’s heart.”
@_shanosky: “Reminder…
While Meghan is parading around the UK pretending to grieve the Queen she knew only 2 yrs, she has yet to visit her own father who suffered a debilitating stroke and lives only a couple of hours away from her.”
Becca: “Imagine someone going on the worlds biggest talk show and badmouthing your family to the world?!
That is why Britain are angry with Meghan & Harry.
NOTHING to do with her race.”
Some tweeps were also furious with the Sussexes constant holding of hands.
A tweep, @MDYmore said, “In the church and they are holding hands, like school children and so pathetic. They only seem to hold hands when its his engagement, when its her’s she is a strong, independent woman who rarely touches him or even looks at him.”
Another tweep, LeaM wrote: “The smirk.
She couldn’t care less. Even holding hands again walking out. No class. Even now disrespecting #QueenElizabeth, traditions and protocol.
Just there for the big historic shots and to testify her right of peddling her title, her right to exist.”
@sometimesdone1: “This is unbelievable and indecent. Why couldn’t the court or King Charles tell them that holding hands in this situation is inappropriate. What a disgrace to the Queen.”
Other tweeps supported the Sussexes show of affection and found it unbelievable that the couple’s holding hands during the monarch’s funeral could be offensive to some people.
A tweep, @yoon_strawberry said, “Share this picture of Prince Harry and Princess Meghan holding hands lovingly to piss off some deranged royalists today.”
@sholamos1: “How’s Harry and Meghan holding hands attention seeking? What kind of godforsaken rotten infested vermin must you be to be ‘offended’ they held hands at the Queen’s funeral? HIS GRANDMOTHER.
Every abuse/harassment/attack targeted at them because of racist outrage at Meghan. SICK”
Carmen’s Granddaughter: “This woman did not have to show up. That country has abused her so terribly. Meghan has the heart of a lion. Prince Harry is lucky.”
SussexHenryVIII: “I love that every time Harry & Meghan appear in public committing the egregious sin on holding hands, hundreds of loveless Karens collectively tell the world how miserable their lives are. Pretty sure you can hear the screeching from space.”
Clementine_Ford: “I’ve been collecting headlines about Meghan Markle for the last few weeks. It’s been absolutely vile. When Harry says here “they won’t stop until she’s dead”, I really believe that’s true. I’m glad he put her first.”