It Was ‘Written’ on Harry and Meghan’s Faces in Brussels How ‘Difficult’ the Past Few Weeks Were
EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS: Royal expert Bronte Coy says Harry and Meghan’s faces showed the toll of a 'difficult few weeks' at the Brussels memorial opening.
THE opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in Brussels was never going to be a colorful, joyous occasion. But the Sussexes’ family turmoil added an intense undertone that weighed heavily on the entire day.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walked into the European Parliament holding hands, a gesture that seemed like a show of support amid the turbulent times. They smiled at the dignitaries, shared a precious encounter with a grieving mother, and greeted the attendees, but none of that erased the stress of the past few weeks from their faces. The Royal Observer’s Associate Editor, Joshua Rom, spoke with royal expert Bronte Coy about the impact of Thomas Markle’s scandal on the Sussexes’ appearance in Brussels.
“It was a very emotional outing. You could clearly see on Harry and Meghan's faces as they turned up. The toll that the last few days and the last few weeks have had on them as that personal story has unfolded,” Coy said. She further mentioned that the couple had arrived at the European Parliament to “get on with the job,” but the tension was certainly palpable. “They're very stoic. But I think we all noticed, you know, as soon as they turned up, it was very much written on their faces that it's been it's been a difficult few weeks,” she added.
Harry and Markle have been advocates for online safety for years. They have spoken about protecting children online before, and they have unveiled the Lost Screen Memorial twice already. First in New York last year, and then in Geneva earlier this year, where the Duchess of Sussex gave a keynote speech. Their Brussels visit was in no measure a first for their cause, and yet it was completely different from any other event before. “This is something we've heard Harry speak about a lot over the years, and I've heard him speak about it even in person. But today, to compare today's, you know, performance with previous ones, again, you could really see that it has been a heavy period for him,” Coy said.
The royal expert added that the Duke’s speech “hit a much stronger note” on Tuesday not just for “everyone in the room” but probably also for “himself”. Markle was scheduled to join her husband for a rare joint keynote address, but she withdrew. A source claimed that she was not “strong enough” yet. However, she accompanied Harry to Brussels to support him, as Coy rightly stated, “She pulled out (at) the last minute. You know what, fair play to her for coming along because, as I said, you could tell it had been a difficult period. But she was there in front and center supporting him.”
The Sussexes’ Brussels visit was their first joint international outing since returning to the UK. It was touted as a high-profile sequel to their triumphant Nottingham trip, but instead of cheers and graceful waves, it was overshadowed by personal drama.
