The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been snubbed from the King’s official birthday for the second year in a row after a turbulent four years since their dramatic Royal Family exit.
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Previous years have seen Harry and Meg join the Firm on Buckingham Palace balcony – with their last appearance being in 2019 alongside the late Queen.
Despite invites for Trooping the Colour continuing to be sent since Megxit, one was not extended to the pair at their £12m California mansion this year.
It comes after Princess Kate revealed she will make a public comeback appearance at Trooping the Colour tomorrow.
Brave Kate, 42, tonight thanked her supporters in a heartfelt, personal message following her cancer diagnosis.
And for former soldier Harry, who served in Afghanistan, not taking part in the ceremony will be a real blow, says Richard Fitzwilliams.
He claims that Harry missing out on the event is likely to make him feel regret about his behaviour over the years – which has included branding step mum Queen Camilla a “villain”.
Meanwhile, Meghan won’t be phased, he claims.
The expert said: “I think when it comes to military matters Harry has always taken an interest.
“I think that he does unquestionably view the way the break has occurred with the Royal Family.
“Which, as I say in my opinion, is the fault of the Sussexes.
“We know they wanted an apology from the Royal Family for the way they were treated when they were senior working members of it.
“They certainly won’t get that. But I do think there will be a certain amount of regret.
“The military has been a very important part of his life, and I would have thought it only natural that he would have had a feeling of some regret [not being at Trooping the Colour].
“I think Meghan would be indifferent to a ceremony like Trooping the Colour quite frankly.
“I have no idea whether she would or wouldn’t actually watch it, but I don’t think it would mean a great deal to her.
“If it had done, she would have managed to carve a position within the Royal Family where she could have been of use.”
The last time Prince Harry jetted over to the UK was in May to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games – but he didn’t see the King or his family while here.
It was understood Harry’s whistle-stop trip was strictly business so he could get back for son Archie’s fifth birthday and also reunite with Meg and daughter Lilibet – who hasn’t met Charles yet.
You simply cannot have Trooping The Colour where the centre figures are Harry and Meghan. Because it would be ridiculous
Richard Fitzwilliams
Richard added he couldn’t ever see Harry’s two kids on Buckingham Palace balcony or at a royal event because of the rift.
He said: “I think it’s impossible to imagine Archie and Lilibet on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, or at Trooping The Colour by themselves.
“We will only see them on the balcony with Harry and Meghan and the rest of the family if the rift is solved.”
However, that reunion at an event won’t take place for “a number of years”, Richard continued.
He added: “The appearance of the Sussexes anywhere is accompanied by a vast amount of publicity. It would overshadow the parade this weekend.
“Trooping the Colour is about the King, first and foremost. Harry and Meghan would bring some form of publicity circus with them.
What is Trooping the Colour?
TROOPING the Colour is a ceremonial event performed at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall every year to celebrate the official birthday of the monarch.
It dates back to Charles II in the 17th century.
At the start of it, the monarch is greeted by a Royal salute and the National Anthem.
The parade then commences and concludes with a second Royal salute.
King Charles and other members of the Royal Family later gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.
The King traditionally has two birthdays: Charles’ actual birthday on November 14, as well as an official birthday marked every summer by the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The celebration takes place in June — monarchs originally celebrated their official birthdays on the second Thursday in June, but the date was changed to the second Saturday in June in 1959.
The event is called Trooping the Colour for military personnel to recognise what their regiments’ colours looked like, it was necessary for the colours trooped in front of the soldiers.
The purpose of this was so that they would be familiar with their unit in battle.
This was achieved by young officers marching in between ranks of troops formed up in lines with their colours held high.
“You simply cannot have Trooping The Colour where the centre figures are Harry and Meghan. Because it would be ridiculous.
“Every single time the Sussexes appear, they attract phenomenal amounts of publicity.
“I’m looking at a period of quite a number of years before they come to a royal event again.”
Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial event performed at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall every year and will take place on June 15.
Princess Kate revealed yesterday she will be joining her family as they gather for the ceremony tomorrow.
Kate will ride in a carriage with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and six-year-old Prince Louis – meaning she is able to wave to crowds set to line The Mall.
She will also watch the parade before appearing with the King, William and other royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
King Charles will be greeted by a royal salute and the National Anthem before a parade through the capital begins.
The monarch and other Firm members then gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony for a Royal Air Force fly-past.
Archewell has been contacted for comment.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s life since ‘Megxit’
- November 2016 – Harry formally reveals he is in a relationship with Suits actress Meghan Markle.
- September 2017 – Meghan tells Vanity Fair the couple are in love and happy together.
- September 2017 – The couple make their first public appearance together holding hands at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
- November 2017 – Prince Charles issues a statement revealing Harry and Meghan are engaged.
- May 2018 – Harry and Meghan tie the knot, becoming Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
- October 2018 – The couple announce they are expecting their first child while on their first overseas tour in Australia.
- March 2019 – Harry and Meghan set up their own household, splitting their joint operation with Prince William and Kate.
- May 2019 – Meghan gives birth to a baby boy named Archie.
- October 2019 – Harry reveals his rift with his brother William in a bombshell documentary.
- January 2020 – The couple stun the Queen by announcing plans to quit senior roles and settle in North America. After ten days of talks at Sandringham, it’s agreed the couple will no longer be working royals and will give up their “Royal Highness” titles.
- March 2020 – Harry and Meghan carry out their last official engagement and move to California.
- September 2020 – Netflix announces a huge deal with the couple.
- February 2021 – Buckingham Palace announces the couple’s split as working members of the monarchy is permanent and they will lose their royal patronages.
- March 2021 – The palace says it is “very concerned” about allegations of bullying made by former staff of Harry and Meghan, launching a probe.
- March 2021 – Meghan tells Oprah Winfrey Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born. She claims Kate “hurt her feelings” and made her cry before her wedding. Harry says Charles has stopped taking his calls and he has been “cut off” financially.
- January 2023 – Harry publishes his tell-all memoir Spare, launching scathing attacks on William, Kate and Camilla. He says he and William once got into a physical fight over Meghan.
- April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London.
- September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
- February 2024 – Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.
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