Prince Harry was seen in public Thursday for the first time since his stunning Megxit announcement — making what could be his final official engagement as a royal, according to reports.
The Duke of Sussex was first spotted staring intently at his phone in the back of a car as he was driven into Buckingham Palace for his first formal event since last week’s stunning announcement that he was quitting the royal family.
The tired-looking prince, in a blue suit and silver tie, then joked around with young rugby players as he walked out onto the palace grounds before holding the draw for the Rugby League World Cup.
He appeared to hint at his current scandal when he teased the young players about playing on the palace grounds.
“Look after the grass though yeah? Otherwise I’ll get in trouble,” he joked, according to The Sun.
Once inside the draw, however, he seemed distracted and spoke in a faltering voice as he praised sports for “saving lives.”
Harry refused to answer any questions about his bombshell decision to quit the royal family.
“How are the discussions going on your future?” one reporter called out, with the prince remaining tight-lipped and merely smiling at one of his entourage, the Evening Standard said.
The rugby event is the last one Harry is known to have in the immediate future — meaning it could prove to be his last ever as a royal, The Sun said Thursday.
He is expected to stay in the UK for further meetings about his royal exit strategy before flying to Canada to reunite with wife Meghan Markle and their baby son Archie, according to the reports.
The 35-year-old prince has managed to keep a low profile in the week since the news, sneaking into a historic royal summit Monday — while wife Meghan has made public appearances at a series of women’s group meetings while in Canada.
Royal biographer Angela Levin had predicted to Sky News that the world would be seeing “a sad Harry who puts on a good face because of his sense of duty.”
Harry appeared inside the palace for the rugby tournament’s official draw, his voice reserved and faltering as he spoke of his passion for how sports are key in “changing lives [and] saving lives as well.”
The prince looked serious even as presenter Dave Woods said he felt “very privileged” to have the prince at the “historic” occasion, referring to him as “His Royal Highness.”
The Royal Family also notably referred to Harry as His Royal Highness in a tweet about the event.
Harry and Meghan’s titles and roles in the family are understood to be part of ongoing debate during the “period of transition” the Queen granted the couple who she says “wish to live a more independent life.”
Earlier in the day, Harry appeared in a video supporting a “Mental Fitness Charter” aimed at rugby players — with some potentially telling quotes that could relate to his own drama.
He called rugby a community that “takes care of its own” and advised players not to just “grin and bear it” and hide their feelings.
The global rugby tournament will take place during October and November in 17 cities across the UK.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiV2h0dHBzOi8vcGFnZXNpeC5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xNi9wcmluY2UtaGFycnktbWFrZXMtZmlyc3QtcHVibGljLWFwcGVhcmFuY2Utc2luY2UtbWVneGl0L9IBW2h0dHBzOi8vcGFnZXNpeC5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xNi9wcmluY2UtaGFycnktbWFrZXMtZmlyc3QtcHVibGljLWFwcGVhcmFuY2Utc2luY2UtbWVneGl0L2FtcC8?oc=5
2020-01-16 12:06:00Z
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