Why Meghan Markle Didn't Ride With Kate Middleton, Camilla During Queen Elizabeth's Procession

Meghan Markle was not in the same car as Queen Consort Camilla and Kate Middleton during Queen Elizabeth II's procession Wednesday due to royal protocol.

The queen consort and the Princess of Wales were photographed riding in the same car during the procession transporting Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

The Duchess of Sussex did not join them because royal rankings forced her to take a separate vehicle, Page Six reported. Markle, 41, traveled with Prince Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Middleton shared a car with Queen Consort Camilla because she is now the Princess of Wales and is the wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, who became Prince of Wales after his father King Charles III's ascension last week.

King Charles, 73, Prince William, 40, Prince Harry, 37, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward all walked behind the Queen's casket during the procession.

Royal guards carried the coffin and carefully placed it atop a wooden table for the public to pay their respects until the Queen's funeral on Monday.

Despite the rumored tension between the royal siblings, Prince Harry and Prince William walked next to each other, a scene reminiscent of their mom Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Prince and Princess of Wales previously reunited for a royal walkabout Saturday in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death on Sept. 8 at age 96. The foursome greeted royal fans who gathered outside Windsor Castle to pay their respects.

Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William invited his younger brother and sister-in-law to join him and his wife on the walkabout. William believed that it "was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family," an unnamed royal insider told People.

Body language experts Judi James and Dr. Lillian Glass weighed in on the one-time "Fab Four's" behavior during their first public reunion in over two years. They suggested to Page Six that Middleton and Markle appeared to have not yet reconciled, based on their body language during the outing.

Glass claimed that Prince William appeared "a bit more cordial" toward Markle compared to Middleton, who did not even look at her sister-in-law.

"[William] was still serious around [Meghan] and didn't show his usual megawatt smile. Kate even refused to even look at Meghan or in her direction," Glass told Page Six. "She was being genuine. It was not in her heart to smile at Meghan, so she didn't do it."

James agreed with Glass' analysis, telling the outlet that Middleton "appeared to be less keen to perform for the cameras."