Meghan Markle's awkward gesture to Kate Middleton following life-changing announcement

After the announcement of Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis, many royal fans have been convinced there could be an end in sight to the issues between the Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. There have been tensions within 'the Firm' since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from official duties to start a new life in California.

Following a raft of explosive claims about the royals from the duke and duchess in a number of high profile interviews over the years, it seemed like there was no going back. But after the Princess of Wales shocked the world with her health update in March, and following King Charles own cancer diagnosis, which was announced in January, rumours have been swirling of a potential thawing in relations.

Many royal fans were shocked and upset back in 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced their decision, and it wasn't just fans that were shocked as Harry's family had also been reportedly left in the dark. Some reports suggested King Charles and Prince William were only given 10 minutes' notice before the couple confirmed the news with a statement, as we previously reported.

And once the news was out, the Royal Family and their advisors got to work to sort out the logistics of what Meghan and Harry's life going forward would look like.

Following many tense meetings, a date was finally agreed to be the couple's final royal engagement which was the Commonwealth Day.

The annual event was always going to be a tense one with tensions still running high between Palace walls and one body language expert claimed the meeting between Kate and Meghan was particularly awkward.

Following tradition, Meghan and Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey before Prince William and Kate as they are less senior and they took their seats in the second row and waited for the senior royals to arrive.

Meghan smiled as the family walked in, including her father-in-law King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, before doing a small awkward wave in Kate's direction.

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Speaking at the time, Judi James said the wave was a "rather odd greeting ritual". She told The Mirror : "It wasn't the warm reunion that we were all hoping for. The tension in Harry's body language especially was palpable.

"When he arrived, the minute he and Meghan had to drop hands, he immediately reached for his wedding ring which is a self comfort.

"Even when she was beside him after they had stopped holding hands, he was missing her, needing her support.

"As Harry walked up the aisle, they both waved at the children, but his face otherwise was quite tense and unsmiling.

"Harry and Meghan looked a lot more genuinely cheerful, and Harry especially, threw a really affectionate smile at Kate.

"But when it was William, you could see Harry was slightly more rigid and his lips were closed."

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