London: On Monday, May 19, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quietly celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary, the British royal family released an official statement, though not in connection with the couple's milestone.
Instead, the palace's social media platforms featured a photograph of Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, along with a formal statement highlighting his representation of King Charles III at the Inaugural Mass marking the beginning of the new Papacy. "The Duke of Edinburgh meets Pope Leo XIV following his Inaugural Mass at the Vatican," the caption read, emphasizing royal engagement in global religious diplomacy.
A day earlier, Buckingham Palace issued a similar update, stating, "The Duke of Edinburgh represented the King at the Inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV, which was held in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, this morning." The royal family's announcement coincided with the Anniversary of Harry and Meghan's wedding, held on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Now living in California, the couple stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and are focused on raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. While the palace maintained a public silence regarding the Anniversary, royal commentator Jennie Bond remarked that the Sussexes would unlikely receive any greetings from the royal family, citing lingering tensions.
"I very much doubt that there will be anniversary wishes winging their way from the UK to California," Bond noted, suggesting the ongoing rift remains unresolved. The royal family posted no official anniversary message on Monday evening.
