Prince Harry ‘grateful’ for friendly reception from crowds after cold shoulder from family

The Royal Family was nowhere to be seen as Prince Harry arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral alone this evening to take part in an event celebrating the Invictus Games

Prince Harry seemed “forlorn” as he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral alone tonight following a snub from the Royal Family.

The Duke of Sussex attended a special service at the cathedral to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Invictus Games. Harry was seen walking up the steps wearing a navy suit and his military medals and he smiled and waved as the crowd cheered.

Harry was then given a warm welcome by the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett. Body language expert Judi James believes Harry was “grateful for the reception” after a no-show from his family.

Harry greets the clergy as he arrives at St Paul's
Prince Harry was given a warm welcome as he arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Judi said: “Despite those medals pinned to his chest and despite the couple of friendly grins he threw at the crowds, Harry’s body language here suggested a slightly forlorn and wary inner state as he exited his car and made his way up the steps to the church.

“He buttoned his jacket and then kept his hand there, even replacing it as he shook hands with the clergy, suggesting a need for a partial barrier gesture. His three waves to the crowd were relatively humble rather than royal, with the palm held out and the fingers splayed and more of an over-the-shoulder glance than any creation of a more static and deliberate pose of greeting.

“His grin suggested he was grateful for the reception and keen to create some friendly bonds with the crowds here. The way the grin widened as he turned for one last wave also suggested a possible sense of relief that he had got this very public solo arrival over.”

Members of the public wait to see Britain's Prince Harry
Hundreds of people gathered in London to catch a glimpse of the Duke of Sussex 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Hundreds of fans had gathered outside St Paul’s Cathedral hoping to catch a glimpse of Harry. He was cheered as he made his way inside the venue.

Meghan Markle decided not to join her husband as he returned to the UK and it was reported she was “wary” of getting booed at the Invictus Games event. The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden told Palace Confidential: “She does not want to return to Britain in a hurry. There are many people here who won’t be sad about that. Meghan will be wary of getting booed at St Paul’s.”

Royal Correspondent Jack Royston also told Newsweek’s Royal Report podcast: “The centrepiece of this visit is a service of Thanksgiving for Invictus at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Now the last time Meghan went there, Meghan and Harry were booed by royalists.

“That was during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. There were cheers as well, but there were certainly boos, and that was during a similar service of Thanksgiving.”

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