Royal Cold Shoulder: Harry's Peace Offering Backfires

The rift between Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the royal family has grown even wider – all thanks to a wreath.

- Judy Kean

Harry, 36, was said to be “deeply saddened” when his request to have a wreath laid on his behalf at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday was denied.

So, he and Meghan, 39, who now live in California with their 18-month-old son Archie, responded by paying tribute their own way in Los Angeles. The couple was photographed placing a wreath at an obelisk in the Los Angeles National Cemetery and then laying flowers at two Commonwealth graves – one honouring service people from the Australian Royal Air Force and the other soldiers from the Royal Canadian Artillery. The white flowers were picked by Meghan from the garden of their $28m Montecito mansion.

This latest incident is a sign that tensions between the Sussexes and the senior royals in the UK have escalated, says Robert Lacey, author of the recently released book Battle of the Brothers, about the breakdown of Harry’s relationship with his brother Prince William, 38. “This is an indication that things are worse than we thought.”

The snub suggests that Buckingham Palace considers Harry to be “expendable” and does not bode well for hopes that the ever-increasing rift will be mended any time soon.

“On the face of this, it would seem Harry is keener on reconciliation or maintaining some sort of link than the palace is to granting one,” says Robert, adding that Harry’s request for a wreath bearing his name to be laid as part of the occasion honouring servicemen and women who died in wars was “perfectly reasonable”.