Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were allegedly excluded from the Royal Family’s gathering commemorating one year since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
The intimate event, set to take place at Balmoral Castle on September 8, did not extend invitations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex despite their presence in Europe for the Invictus Games scheduled the following day in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Sources indicate that there has been no outreach to the couple, reflecting the ongoing rift between the exiled royals and the Royal Family. Their trip to Germany will mark their first joint European appearance since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
The decision to exclude Harry and Meghan from the gathering appears to have been made to maintain an intimate atmosphere. While Prince Charles had previously retained their names on the list of invitees, it appears that the monarch chose to keep the event limited to close family members, and the Sussexes were left out.
Notably, scandal-plagued Prince Andrew is expected to join the annual vacation along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Tensions between the Royal Family and the Sussexes escalated when Harry and Meghan decided to step down as senior members of the royal family and sought privacy by relocating to Montecito, California. This move led to various high-profile projects, including a controversial Netflix documentary and a headline-making interview with Oprah Winfrey.
King Charles’ relationship with Harry has suffered significantly, particularly following the release of Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” and the candid interviews that accompanied it. In the memoir, Harry made several accusations against his family, alleging leaked stories to the press and mistreatment of his wife.
With the Royal Family’s gathering at Balmoral approaching, the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Diana, reflects the continued complexities within the royal institution and the delicate family dynamics at play.
