Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were greeted with cheers outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday as they made their first public appearance in the United Kingdom in two years.
However, there was a generational divide among the throngs of admirers queuing at the London landmark to catch a glimpse of the royals.
The couple’s return for the Platinum Jubilee festivities of Queen Elizabeth II was always going to be scrutinised as a litmus test of their popularity.
They retired as working royals in 2020 and moved to California, where their outspoken criticisms have enraged monarchy supporters.
“They got a pretty large cheer,” Ana, a 23-year-old Mexican student in the UK, remarked as she and a buddy watched.
The couple kept a quiet profile during the Trooping the Colour procession on Thursday, which kicked off the celebrations to commemorate the queen’s record-breaking 70-year reign.
Ana, on the other hand, thought the “backseat” role was “unfair.” She told AFP, “They should all be treated the same.”
‘Old-fashioned’
Only “working royals” were allowed to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday, according to Harry’s grandmother.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s only official participation in the four-day celebrations was at the St Paul’s service.
“They are members of the royal family,” Amy Thomas, 17, who travelled to London with her mother from northern England for the occasion, said.
“They should be able to do something a little different with the royal family now.”
“I just think the royal family’s presentation is outdated.” They’ve simply become set in their ways.
“It was all about Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry and Harry I believe you can see why it needs to be handled differently.”
These views contrasted with a YouGov poll released this week, which found that over two-thirds of Britons (63 percent) had a negative opinion of both Harry and Meghan.
However, there is a generational divide. The couple is mostly viewed positively among people aged 18 to 24. More than 60% of the over-65s have a negative opinion.
Gwyneth Cookson, 65, of Motherwell, Scotland, near Glasgow, said she proudly shook Meghan’s hand at Edinburgh Castle.
Cookson, who was sporting a gleaming Union Jack insignia, remarked, “I’m a fan.”
“I’m hoping for a small reconciliation.”
‘You are not welcome.’
Other older royal observers appeared to be a little chillier.
Ruth Horsfield, from Lancashire in northwest England, who travelled to London on a pensioners’ coach tour, stated, “I’m not really interested any longer.”
“I have nothing against them, but they now have their own lives.” They don’t feel like they’re a part of it anymore.
“In a sense, they’ve gotten rid of it.” They shouldn’t make any money off of it, in my opinion.”
“I think they’re just being forgotten about,” observed her Yorkshire friend Glynis Morgan.
“As long as they don’t rake muck and cause the queen too much harm.”
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Coleen, from the Canadian city of Toronto, where Meghan briefly lived, was clearly not a fan, wearing a purple jubilee T-shirt and matching cap, as well as a Swatch watch portraying the queen and a corgi.
She said gently, “I don’t think she did anyone any favours.” “I believe he chose the wrong woman.”
Lorraine Frame, from Northern Ireland, sat next to her and said, “They have their own agenda.”
“They’re returning because they’re afraid of losing out on something, but they’re not welcome.” They got a lot of boos from me.”
She said she came especially for the jubilee, wearing a Union Jack t-shirt and reading a newspaper royal supplement.
“I don’t trust them because of their relations with Netflix and what they may or may not say, and I believe they should be ashamed.” “I mean, Harry was raised better,” she explained.
She stated that Harry “wants his cake and he wants to eat it.”
Megan “entered this royal family believing she could change hundreds of years of history and custom — and she didn’t,” she alleged.
“Let her enjoy her day today, and bring them back to America as soon as possible.”
