Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing criticism from royal experts who claim her decision not to accompany her husband, Prince Harry, on his upcoming visit to London is a sign of selfishness and immaturity. The Duchess's absence from the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St. Paul's Cathedral has raised questions about her motives and the ongoing tensions within the Royal Family.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn believes that Meghan's choice to stay behind in California could be perceived as "holding grudges" against the Royal Family, potentially leading to accusations of selfishness. Quinn told The Mirror, "Meghan will be accused of being selfish by not coming to see King Charles and Kate. Everyone in the UK knows what it's like to have a family row, but few of us take family rows to the extreme as Meghan has done. People are beginning to ask why can't Meghan just grow up and accept that families fall out but that holding grudges is just selfish and immature."
The Duchess's decision to skip the UK trip comes amid a backdrop of strained relations between the Sussexes and the Royal Family, following their decision to step down from royal duties in 2020. Meghan last visited the UK in September 2022 and has not returned since, raising speculation about the reasons behind her absence.
ITV News' royal correspondent Chris Ship suggested that Meghan's reluctance to return to the UK could be linked to the negative reception she and Harry received during their last appearance at St. Paul's Cathedral for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Ship recalled, "We heard the boos for them. We should be clear there was also people cheering for them, but there were definitely boos at St Paul's Cathedral, so going back there I can see why Meghan may not wish to accompany Harry there."
However, Meghan's plans to join Harry in Nigeria later in the month for the next stop on the Invictus Tour have led some experts to believe that she may be more favorably received in Africa than in her husband's homeland. Royal Correspondent Jack Royston, speaking on Newsweek's Royal Report podcast, noted, "As much as Meghan in this country is a bit of Marmite character, people love her or people really don't love her, she is likely to be seen very very differently in Africa."
Royston also suggested that Meghan's reasons for staying away from the UK could be as simple as concerns over childcare and her safety, given the negative reception she has faced in the past. "By contrast, Meghan will obviously get a very positive welcome in Nigeria, so, she may simply be choosing guaranteed good PR over the possibility of another moment of hubris at the hands of monarchists who don't really like her very much," he added.
In a separate development, royal biographer and commentator Phil Dampier has drawn attention to a subtle 15-word dig Meghan appeared to make at the Royal Family during the finale episode of her podcast, Archetypes. In the episode, released in November 2021, Meghan shared a quote from Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos, saying, "What didn't you do to bury me, but you forgot that I was a seed." She then added, "To that point, my friend, keep growing, and I'll see you on the flip side."
Dampier interpreted this as a veiled reference to the restrictions Meghan faced within the Royal Family, telling The Sun, "It's a clever way of doing it because she's not directly saying something. People can still read into it what they like. Then, if anyone takes offence, she can say, 'Oh, I didn't mean it like that.'"
