Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are aware their decision not to comment on Prince Philip's memorial service could be seen as "petulant and rude", a royal expert has claimed.
The couple decided against returning for the UK to honour the Duke of Edinburgh's life at the emotional Westminster Abbey service.
The Queen, Princes Andrew and Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and little George and Charlotte were among the 1,800-strong congregation yesterday.
However the Sussexes decided not to attend and also opted against releasing a statement or a tribute to Harry's grandfather to mark the day.
The announcement came amid a row over his security in the UK, with Harry saying it wasn't safe for him to bring his family here.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward, author of Prince Philip Revealed, tells The Mirror she believes their silence speaks volumes.
She said: "The wall of silence was as loud as if they had shouted from the abbey rafters. The normally verbose duke and duchess of Sussex said nothing.
"No spokesperson spewed out long sentences of undecipherable wordage. There were no flowers with the florists name proudly displayed.
"No comments from Archwell. Nothing. Not even a word from their supporters on various social media accounts."
Harry used his Archwell website to share a moving tribute to his grandfather after his death last year, describing him as "master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ‘til the end".
She's also criticised Harry and Meghan's decision not to attend and says fears that their appearance would overshadow the event were not accurate.
"There has been a great deal of criticism about Prince Harry ’s absence from his grandfather’s memorial service. But no reason given as to why he chose not to attend from Harry himself.
"A couple of weeks ago he instructed his spokesperson to say he wouldn’t be going. That was it.
"What a missed opportunity it was not to bring Meghan and the children to join the extended royal family, European cousins and of course Archie’s contemporaries.
"Their appearance would not have diverted attention away from the Queen. It was her day and no one could take that away from her not even her favourite son the Duke of York who guided her to her seat.
"The only explanation is that neither one of them wanted to go. There would have been no security problems. The whole Abbey was bristling with secret service men to guard the biggest gathering of royalty, politicians and top army brass since the London wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
"Harry must have known it would look petulant and rude. And if he did not Meghan would have.
"If it was a pointed snub to the whole royal family and it went sour.
"Of course, the Queen would have been told well in advance. Harry keeps in constant touch with his grandmother for many reasons. I am sure he spoke to his father too. But nothing excuses his absence even if Meghan and the children stayed away.
"He will not get another opportunity to pay his respects in public to the grandfather who always supported him.
"He has upset too many influential people too many times. It is something he will live to regret."
