London: Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will fulfill their final royal commitment when they attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday.
It's the last time they will be seen at work with the entire royal Windsor clan before they fly off into self-imposed exile in North America.
The service marks the end of a two-month drama that began when the couple announced plans to walk away from their roles as senior members of Britain's royal family and into a world where they will have to earn a living, pay their own way and even open some doors for themselves.
It's uncharted territory for the House of Windsor, even as the family seeks to downsize.
Less than two years ago, Harry and Meghan were seen as a golden couple that would help extend the royal family's appeal to a new generation. But the horses were barely back at the stable before pressures intensified on the couple, who became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day.
Even before the ceremony, Britain's tabloid newspapers featured stories about a rift between Meghan and her father. When Meghan became pregnant, some commentators criticised her for jetting off to New York for a baby shower, a strange American tradition to many in Britain. Others lampooned Meghan's politically correct pronouncements on the environment and women's rights.
Read: Saudi crackdown on royal family members to stymie dissent: Reports
Meghan's supporters saw racism at work. Harry publicly defended his wife and directed his anger at the intrusive media he has resented all his life because of the paparazzi’s role in chasing his mother, Princess Diana, on the night in 1997 when she died in a Paris car accident.
The prince himself was stung by media reports of a split between him and his older brother, Prince William. The notion that the brothers and their glamorous wives would be a royal "Fab Four'' for the 21st century began to fade.
Then in January, the couple sparked a royal crisis when they revealed that they intended to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family. The move came after holiday pictures were released of the queen along with son Prince Charles, grandson Prince William and great-grandson Prince George. The future was pictured and Harry wasn't part of it.
In a personal statement, Harry and Meghan revealed that they intended to become “financially independent” and "balance” their time between the U.K. and North America, while continuing to honor and serve the queen. They wanted, in essence, to be part-time royals.
Hours later, Buckingham Palace issued a statement hinting that this part-time notion had caught some in the royal household by surprise. The queen stepped in: Harry and Meghan would stop carrying out royal duties in March, would pay back the renovation costs and would receive no public money after they stepped aside.
While Harry and Meghan would always be part of the royal family, they won't be allowed to use the word "royal'' to earn a living.
(With inputs from AP)
