MEGHAN Markle’s friend has said she “grew very close to Prince Philip over the years” and her “relations with the family will now be smaller” following his death.
Omid Scobie said the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral yesterday was “a sad day” for the Duchess of Sussex as she watched on from home in the US with Archie.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
Heavily pregnant Meghan has remained in Los Angeles on doctor’s advice while Prince Harry made the 5,400-mile trip to the UK ahead of the sombre proceedings at Windsor Castle.
Buckingham Palace confirmed those who were unable to attend made “private arrangements” to mark Philip’s life.
Meghan, 39, watched through a special live stream with son Archie.
Her close pal Omid Scobie – who co-wrote Finding Freedom, an explosive biography on Megxit – reported live on the event from Windsor Castle today for American broadcaster ABC.
He claimed her relationship with Prince Philip and the Queen was “probably her strongest relationship within the family”.
It comes as…
- A sombre Queen sat alone on the “saddest and most difficult day” as she bid farewell to husband prince Philip
- Prince Harry and William shared a private chat as they left the funeral
- The brothers sat facing each other during the service at St George’s Chapel
- Meghan Markle left a handwritten note to Prince Philip
- The Duchess of Sussex watched the funeral from the US after not being able to fly to the UK for the service
- Prince Charles fought back tears at the emotional funeral
- Kate Middleton gave a touching nod to Diana and the Queen by wearing a pearl choker
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault
“Although Meghan isn’t here, she is of course supporting Harry,” he told viewers.
“Her mind is very much on the situation over here.
“We know that she’s supporting Harry in this very difficult week for him, but she’ll also be sad because this is also the loss of a family member for her.
“She grew very close to the queen and Prince Philip over the recent years.
“It was probably her strongest relationship within the family and those relations then get smaller this week.
“It’ll be a sad day for her.”
Although unable to make the trip over, Meghan requested for a handwritten note to be left for Prince Philip alongside a wreath.
The Sussexes hand-selected flowers in the late Duke’s honour, with each of the locally-sourced blooms featured on the wreath having their own significance.
Willow Crossley is said to have hand-made the wreath, who also arranged the flowers for the couple’s evening wedding celebrations in Frogmore Gardens and for the Sussexes’ son Archie’s christening.
While in the States, Meghan and Harry’s pals Omid Scobie and Gayle King led coverage.
Philip’s funeral was different to any other royal’s after Covid made the family strip back all tradition.
Just 30 guests attended and the Queen did not take part in the procession from Windsor Castle.
The Duke of Sussex had been isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor grounds, after flying in from LA for the funeral.
It was he had seen his family since Megxit – although it’s been reported he spoke on the phone to Charles and William after landing in the UK.
He walked feet away from William, with Peter Phillips between them, as they processed behind the coffin.
The pair shared a private moment as they chatted while walking away from Prince Philip’s emotional funeral yesterday afternoon.
It appears they stuck to their word to put their differences aside after a turbulent year to focus on mourning the Duke of Edinburgh.
