MEGHAN Markle’s pal says Prince Philip’s funeral is a “sad day for her” and the service was “very much on her mind” as she watched from the US.
Omid Scobie said the Duchess of Sussex, 39, would be grieving as she “has also lost a family member” – as the nation united to remember the Duke of Edinburgh.
Heavily pregnant Meghan has remained in Los Angeles on doctor’s advice while Prince Harry made the 5,400-mile trip to the UK ahead of today’s event.
Buckingham Palace confirmed those who were unable to attend made “private arrangements” to mark Philip’s life. Meghan watched the sombre proceedings through a special live stream with son Archie.
Omid Scobie – a close friend of the Sussexes who co-wrote Finding Freedom, an explosive biography on Megxit – reported live on the event from Windsor Castle today for American broadcaster ABC.
He said: “Although Meghan isn’t here, she is of course supporting Harry….her mind is very much on the situation over here.
“We know that she’s supporting Harry in this very difficult week for him, but she’ll also be sad because this is also the loss of a family member for her.
“She grew very close to the queen and Prince Philip over the recent years. It was probably her strongest relationship within the family and those relations then get smaller this week.
“It’ll be a sad day for her.”
It comes as:
Gayle King, the host of CBS This Morning and an ally of Meghan, also anchored a special report on the network for US TV.
She said she suspected “family differences will be set aside for the day”, adding: “William and Harry, there’s no secret about this, have had a strained relationship you could say since Harry stepped away from his royal duties.”
As the funeral began the nation came to a halt to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the duke who died a few months short of his 100th birthday.
The Queen arrived to the funeral wearing all black as the nation united in grief to honour Britain’s longest serving consort.
She travelled to the service in a Bentley with trusted lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey – with both wearing facemasks.
Prince Harry stood apart from William at Prince Philip’s funeral as he was seen in the UK for the first time since his bombshell Oprah interview.
The Duke of Sussex had been isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor grounds, after flying in from LA for the funeral.
This is the first time he has seen his family since Megxit – although it’s been reported he spoke on the phone to Charles and William after landing in the UK.
He walked feet away from William, with Peter Phillips between them, as they processed behind the coffin.
The pair shared a private moment as they chatted while walking away from Prince Philip’s emotional funeral this afternoon.
It appears they stuck to their word to put their differences aside after a turbulent year to focus on mourning the Duke of Edinburgh.
After months of distance sparked by Harry’s move to the US and an explosive Oprah interview, the brothers came together after the poignant service.
Harry was seen talking with William and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the moving funeral.
The brothers walked together for several minutes, moments after watching their grandfather’s coffin lowered into the vault in emotional scenes at St George’s Chapel.
