Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly being left out of a royal family gathering in honor of Queen Elizabeth. This comes despite the couple being in Europe around the time of the event for the Invictus Games. The gathering is set to take place at Balmoral on September 8, marking the one-year anniversary of the late monarch's death.
"There hasn't been any outreach to them," an insider told The Sun, indicating that the couple has not been invited to the event. The gathering is expected to include several members of the royal family, including the controversial Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. However, palace courtiers have refuted these claims, stating that it is "simply untrue" to suggest that the Sussexes were deliberately excluded. They added that there are no plans for a public event or private gathering to commemorate the anniversary.
The courtiers further explained that the couple plans to spend September 8 "quietly and privately," much like Queen Elizabeth used to do on the anniversary of her father's death. This comes amidst reports of secret talks between Prince Harry and his estranged brother, Prince William, aimed at mending their rift, which has been exacerbated by Harry's memoir and a six-part Netflix series.
King Charles III has reportedly been privately upset about the series, viewing it as a money grab that brings shame to the royal family. "Charles understands that Harry feels he could have been a better father, but at the same time, he doesn't think he and the rest of the family deserve to be attacked and shamed like this," a source claimed last fall. The source added that "Harry and Meghan have hit the point of no return."
Despite these tensions, insiders have suggested that Harry has requested a "truce," leading royal experts to question whether he can ever be fully welcomed back by his family. Since stepping down from their senior royal duties in 2020 and settling in Montecito, California, Harry and Meghan have reportedly struggled to "find their footing" in Hollywood. This comes after their $20 million Spotify deal abruptly ended in mid-June.
However, it seems that the couple may have a potential opportunity on the horizon. Reports suggest that Gayle King has been working to secure Harry and Meghan as the first guests on her upcoming CNN show. "She wants the bang the Sussexes can provide," an insider claimed.
