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Queen Camilla reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a subtle way during a visit to Canada, where King Charles gave the historic throne speech. Since Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to the British monarch to deliver the legendary Throne Speech, the world has awaited in anticipation to witness the historic opening of parliament.
Ahead of the iconic day, whispers of a potential reconciliation between the monarch and his estranged son Harry ran wild, with most reasoning that their proximity in the neighboring North American countries would give them an avenue to reunite. However, just before his dad touched down in Canada, the Duke of Sussex jetted halfway across the world in an unexpected move.
Prince Harry’s China Visit Coincides With King Charles’ Trip to Canada
Prince Harry made his first-ever visit to China on May 26 to attend a tourism conference in fulfillment of his role as the co-founder of Travalyst, an organization promoting environmentally friendly travel. As a result, the chances of a father-son reunion became even slimmer. The prince appeared to reference this challenge in his speech by throwing in a quote about his personal struggles since quitting his royal life and becoming estranged from his family while addressing attendees at the conference. Encouraging stakeholders in the travel industry to be more proactive in mitigating the impact of climate change, he divulged,
“Now is the moment for the industry to reaffirm its commitment to being a force for good. Challenges will undoubtedly rise, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that meaningful change never comes easily.”
Many believe Prince Harry’s surprise China visit at the same time as his dad, King Charles’ trip to Canada to give the Throne Speech at the parliament opening was hardly a coincidence. According to them, the Prince embarked on his first-ever visit to the Asian nation as an obvious snub.
Regardless of the exiled Prince’s motives, his stepmother, Queen Camilla, appeared to acknowledge her stepson during the Canada trip with a subtle nod to one of his most important days. Arriving at the Ottawa Airport on Monday, May 26, the Queen stood out in a pink dress designed by Anna Valentine.
Queen Camilla’s Subtle Nod to Harry and Meghan Deemed an Olive Branch
Interestingly, the dress was the same one the Queen wore while attending Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding back in 2018, an apparent olive branch to the exiled royals. According to Vanity Fair, her decision to recycle the dress for her historic Canadian visit “could be a nod to the royal couple,” who celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary last week.
Queen Camilla paired the dress with Chanel shoes, pearl earrings, and a brooch, finishing off the look with a gold pendant engraved with the initials of all her grandchildren. The Queen donned another stunning dress the next day as she accompanied the King to the Parliament opening, the first championed by a monarch in 68 years. This time, she opted for a purple dress and matching hat, accessorizing with a layered beaded necklace and a pair of pointy-toe heels.
The royal couple made their trip back to the United Kingdom right after, concluding the two-day Canadian royal visit. Notably, the monarch’s visit, aside from its symbolic nature recognizing him as the King of Canada, also holds a strong political impact amid Donald Trump’s threats to annex the nation as the 51st state. Mark Carney previously described it as “a historic honor that matches the weight of our times,” also admitting the timing was no coincidence. By presiding over the ceremonial Parliament opening in person and reading the throne speech, the King reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty, recognizing it as an independent nation, long broken away from the reins of colonialism.
