A seasoned journalist recently recounted an intriguing encounter with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a flight that took place shortly after their highly publicized marriage in 2018. This incident occurred as the couple returned from their 16-day royal tour of Australasia, a trip which was notable not only for its diplomatic engagements but also for the personal milestones it included, such as the announcement of Meghan’s pregnancy just before the tour began.
Valentine Low, former royal correspondent and author known for his insights into the life of the British royal family, shared the details of this memorable experience on the latest episode of A Right Royal Podcast. He described how he, along with other members of the media, found themselves in a somewhat awkward situation with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on board the flight, according to Reports. daily express.
“We were flying from Tonga back to Sydney. And often on these tours, there comes a point towards the end where the royals might come back to the back of the plane and chat with us off the record, you know, not for print, but it’s a way to bond. . It’s a way to keep us sweet. It’s a way to have informal contact,” Valentine told hosts Andrea Caamano, Emmy Griffiths and Hello Royal editor Emily Nash.
The author went on to reveal: “And they promised us that he or they would come to the back of the plane, and that didn’t happen. “It didn’t happen and it was a four or five hour flight, ‘When is this going to happen?’ We then buckled in for the descent and landed. And that had not happened.”
Valentine revealed: “And only after we landed, they went back to the back of the plane. And Harry was slightly in front of Meghan, she was slightly behind him. And she didn’t say much. She made some strange comments about us wanting to return for our Sunday lunch. And it was completely strange.
“But what was memorable was what he said. “He told me: ‘Thank you very much for coming, even though you weren’t invited.’ And we thought: ‘What? ‘”. Royal commentator Valentine described Harry’s comments as “rude”.
The tour itself was a major event for Harry and Meghan, as it marked their first major international trip as a married couple. The announcement of his imminent paternity had added an extra layer of excitement to the trip, capturing the attention of both the public and the press. As the couple traveled to various countries, interacted with various communities and participated in various official events, they were constantly under the scrutiny of the global media.
According to Low, the atmosphere on the return flight was tense and full of unsaid words. The media, tasked with covering the tour and providing updates to the world, were naturally eager to observe and interact with the couple during the flight. However, the dynamics on board the plane highlighted the complex relationship between the Sussexes and the press. Low’s account suggests a palpable sense of unease, possibly due to the pressures of the intense public and media attention that had accompanied the couple throughout their tour.