Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were notably absent from this year’s Trooping the Colour, an event that celebrates the official birthday of the British monarch. This marks the second consecutive year that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not invited to the festivities in London. The couple, who stepped back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020, now reside in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
King Charles III, who ascended to the throne in September 2022, celebrated his second official birthday as monarch on June 15. Despite the significance of the event, his younger son and daughter-in-law were not present. PEOPLE confirmed earlier this month that Harry and Meghan did not receive an invitation to the event, continuing a trend from the previous year.
Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, have a history with Trooping the Colour. The couple attended the event together three times following their royal wedding in 2018. Meghan made her debut at the event just a month after their wedding, and they participated again in 2019, shortly after the birth of their son, Archie. However, the event was scaled down in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the couple did not attend.
In 2022, Harry and Meghan traveled from California to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, which marked her 70 years on the throne. Although they were present for Trooping the Colour that year, they did not participate in the procession or the traditional balcony appearance. Instead, they watched the festivities from a room above Horse Guards Parade, along with other non-working royals. Queen Elizabeth had limited the balcony gathering to only working royals and some of their children.
Since King Charles took the throne, the Sussexes have not been in the UK for Trooping the Colour. Harry did return to his home country in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, a competition for veterans and service personnel. However, he did not reunite with his father during that visit due to King Charles’ “full” schedule. The last time Harry and his father saw each other was in February when Harry flew to London amid news of the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
This year’s Trooping the Colour saw other members of the royal family in attendance, including Kate Middleton, who made her first royal outing since Christmas amid her own cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Wales rode in a horse-drawn carriage and appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the event. Her attendance was confirmed the day prior, along with a new photo and personal letter providing a health update. Despite undergoing abdominal surgery in January and chemotherapy, she expressed her hope to join a few public engagements over the summer.
The absence of Harry and Meghan from Trooping the Colour has raised questions about their relationship with the royal family. Since stepping back from their roles, the couple has made a few visits to the UK but has maintained a low profile. Their last appearance at Trooping the Colour in 2022 was subdued, and they did not join the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
King Charles has taken a firmer stance on Harry and Meghan’s involvement in royal affairs since his ascension. In March, he ordered that their bios be removed from the royal family’s website. The description now reads, “As announced in January 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stepped back as working members of The Royal Family.” It also notes their marriage in 2018 and their two children.
The decision to not invite Harry and Meghan to Trooping the Colour has been seen as part of a broader effort to streamline the royal family and focus on those who are actively undertaking official duties. This year’s event, despite the absence of the Sussexes, went on as planned, with King Charles attending amid his cancer treatment. Instead of riding on horseback, he traveled in a horse-drawn carriage alongside Queen Camilla.
The royal family’s dynamics continue to evolve, and the absence of Harry and Meghan from such a significant event underscores the ongoing complexities in their relationship with the monarchy. As the royal family navigates these changes, the focus remains on those who are actively participating in royal duties and public engagements.
