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‘Devastated’ Meghan Markle ‘shed a tear’ during ‘bittersweet’ farewell to royal staff as she left the UK for Canada

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‘DEVASTATED’ Meghan Markle “shed a tear” during a bittersweet farewell to royal staff as she left the UK for Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex this week completed their final engagements as Royals after dramatically quitting the Firm and closing their Buckingham Palace offices.

Meghan Markle met with Commonwealth scholars for one of her last engagements as a royal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended their last engagements, which included a farewell lunch with their staff

And the Telegraph claimed Meghan, 38, “shed a tear” as she and Prince Harry hosted a farewell for their staff at The Goring Hotel in London’s Belgravia on Thursday last week.

And it was further reported the duchess appeared “quietly devastated” at her last private function for Commonwealth students in Buckingham Palace on Monday.

Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, who was at Meghan’s last official engagement as a frontline royal, said: “The pervading emotion on Monday, as I watched the Duchess carry out her final private engagement, seemed to be profound sadness.

“Sadness that it had come to this; sadness that they could not make it work and sadness that less than two years since that glittering fairy tale wedding, the first person of colour to join the British royal family was off.

“How ironic that her final engagement was to be a Commonwealth service that celebrated diversity, uniqueness, and the strength we draw from embracing each other and our differences.”

Gordon, who was previously seen hugging the couple during the Annual Royal Foundation Forum in 2018, said the event seemed “bittersweet” before the couple headed to the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

She added that “there is a feeling that they have been hung out to dry” in the way the couple were treated in Britain.

From March 31, Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles, and will aim to be financially independent as they split their time between the UK and North America.

SO LONG

And Prince Harry and Meghan wanted to do “something special” to say goodbye to their own staff.

A source told Page Six: “Harry and Meghan have often done fun things like throwing pizza parties or hiring ice cream trucks for their staff, but they wanted to do something special going into this last week together.

“They toasted the team and thanked them for everything they have done. Some of the staffers cried.”

While some staff members have been asked to fill other roles in the royal office, many have lost their positions in light of the couple’s departure.

In a statement released by the couple, they earlier confirmed that it was decided in January to close their palace offices.

They said: “The Duke and Duchess shared this news with their team personally in January once they knew of the decision, and have worked closely with their staff to ensure a smooth transition for each of them.

“Over the last month and a half, The Duke and Duchess have remained actively involved in this process, which has understandably been saddening for The Duke and Duchess and their loyal staff, given the closeness of Their Royal Highnesses and their dedicated team.”

Meghan Markle hugs journalist Bryony Gordon as she meets panelists and beneficiaries First Annual Royal Foundation Forum in 2018
Prince Harry also hugs journalist Bryony Gordon in 2018
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Service
The duchess met with the Commonwealth scholars at Buckingham Palace
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a photo of them laughing as they promoted the Queen's Commonwealth Trust
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a photo of them laughing as they promoted the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust