Trooping the Colour may have marked a public family reunion for Princess Kate and other royals, but there were still two family members notably missing from the celebration.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were not among the attendees at today's Trooping the Colour ceremony. People previously reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not receive an invitation to this year’s festivities.
The couple reportedly did not receive an invitation to last year’s ceremony either, which marked the first-ever Trooping the Colour held in honor of King Charles III.
The last time the Sussexes attended Trooping the Colour was in 2022. At the time, the couple traveled to London to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, but they had maintained a low profile during their days-long visit. At that year's Trooping the Colour ceremony, Harry nor Meghan participated in the military procession down the Mall or for the traditional family appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson explained the situation to Bazaar, saying that only senior royals “who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the queen” would be invited to make public appearances.
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Harry and Meghan have made a few visits to the U.K. since stepping back from their roles as senior royals in 2020.
The duke was last in London just last month to host the Invictus Games Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration, though he didn't see Charles during the trip. “It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” a Sussex representative told Bazaar.com. “The Duke, of course, is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
Meanwhile, Harry did get a chance to reunite with his Spencer side of the family. Princess Diana's siblings, brother Charles Spencer and sister Lady Jane Fellowes, supported Harry during the Invictus Games's Service of Thanksgiving held in St. Paul's Cathedral.
Chelsey Sanchez is an editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she writes about any and all things related to culture and entertainment. Previously, she has covered pop culture and politics for outlets like The Atlantic, Flaunt, and The Indypendent. She feels very strongly about Jane Austen adaptations.
