As Prince Harry prepares for his upcoming trip to the United Kingdom to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, speculation surrounding his wife Meghan Markle's absence has reached a fever pitch. The Duchess of Sussex's decision to skip yet another UK visit has left the Duke of Sussex facing the prospect of navigating his return to his home country alone once again.
Royal correspondent Chris Ship confirmed the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "Additional confirmation this morning that Meghan will not be joining Harry for the Invictus Anniversary service at @StPaulsLondon in London. But the Duchess of Sussex will join the Duke for an Invictus-inspired visit to Nigeria immediately after Harry leaves the UK."
Meghan's absence from the UK has become a recurring theme since the couple's departure from the Royal Family in 2020. The Duchess has made very few return trips to the country, with her last visit being for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022. She also notably skipped King Charles's Coronation in May 2023, leaving Harry to attend the historic ceremony alone.
The Duchess's decision to cut ties with the UK has deepened Prince Harry's isolation, according to analysis by Svar Nanan-Sen. "Meghan Markle's decision to cut ties with the UK has left Prince Harry isolated when he returns to the country of his birth," Nanan-Sen wrote. The Duke of Sussex has made multiple high-profile solo trips back to the UK throughout the last year and a half, often facing challenging situations without his wife's support.
One such instance occurred in July 2023 when Harry testified against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in a civil case in London. The royal, who appeared to choke back tears during the bruising grilling, may have benefitted from Meghan's presence during the court appearance. Another blatant snub of the UK came in September 2023 when Meghan chose not to join Prince Harry at the WellChild Awards ceremony, despite travelling from the US to Germany just days later for the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.
In February 2024, Harry rushed to the UK after being informed that his father, King Charles, had been diagnosed with cancer. Following his return from the UK, the Duke outlined in an interview with Good Morning America that he would be making multiple trips back to London during 2024, expressing his desire to see the Royal Family "as much as he can" this year.
However, Meghan's absence from the upcoming Invictus Games anniversary event in London next week has once again highlighted the divide between the Sussexes and the UK. Despite featuring in Harry's Netflix documentary "Heart of Invictus" and joining her husband in Germany last year, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed that the Duchess will not attend the event at St. Paul's Cathedral.
The Duke of Sussex is expected to give a reading during the Invictus event and may meet with the King during his time in the UK. However, no senior member of the Royal Family is expected to attend the event next Wednesday, further underscoring the strained relationship between Harry and his family.
Immediately following his UK visit, Prince Harry is scheduled to join Meghan in Nigeria for an unofficial royal tour, where they have been invited to take part in cultural activities by the country's chief of defence staff. The couple's international engagements come on the heels of Harry's solo trip to the UK, highlighting the stark contrast between his roles as a member of the Royal Family and as a husband to Meghan.
