She said: “During the hugely awkward and painful Commonwealth Service that was Harry and Meghan’s last public appearance before they quit the UK, Edward and Sophie seemed to have been enlisted to act as ice-breakers and air-bags between the Sussexes and the Cambridges.
“But that was before the Oprah interview and Harry’s book Spare wreaked their damage.
“This cold stare or glower might possibly have preceded a warm social smile of greeting from Sophie but, even if it did, there’s a stronger possibility that she was letting her authentic feelings be known first.”
Relations between Harry and his extended family did not appear to have improved much the following year, when he travelled back to Windsor for the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip.
Ms James shared her analysis of the event: “Harry was walking out of Philip’s funeral service alone and had to pass Sophie and her daughter on the way out.
“It was hard not to feel some sympathy for Harry, who was also about to have the famous awkward chat with his brother William that Kate very carefully choreographed.
“It might have been expected that Sophie would, like Kate, take some steps to break the ice, but she didn’t appear to acknowledge Harry at all.”