Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has decided not to accompany her husband, Prince Harry, when he returns to the UK next week to attend an Invictus Games anniversary service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Instead, the couple will reunite later in the month for a visit to Nigeria. While no official reason has been given for Meghan's absence from the UK event, royal experts have speculated on the motives behind her decision.
Speaking on Newsweek's Royal Report podcast, Royal Correspondent Jack Royston discussed several factors that may have influenced Meghan's choice to bypass Britain. One potential reason, Royston noted, could be the negative reception the Sussexes received during their last public appearance at St. Paul's Cathedral for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. "The last time Meghan went there, Meghan and Harry were booed by royalists," he said. "There were cheers as well, but there were certainly boos, and that was during a similar service of Thanksgiving."
In contrast, Royston suggested that Meghan is likely to receive a much warmer welcome in Nigeria, despite the couple ignoring warnings about their safety in the country. "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 said.
The royal correspondent also pointed to the emotional and practical challenges Meghan may face when considering a trip to the UK. "It could genuinely be as simple as the fact that Britain probably holds some pretty difficult memories for her," Royston said, noting that the Duchess "didn't enjoy her time working for the monarchy" and has had "a really hard time with the British press, to put it mildly."
Additionally, Royston highlighted the difficulties Meghan faces as a parent when deciding to travel for extended periods. "On a more emotional front, going away for long periods of time is difficult as a parent, because you have to leave your kids behind," he said. While the couple could potentially bring their children, Archie and Lilibet, with them to the UK, Royston suggested that they may not want to do so due to security concerns.
Since stepping down as working members of the royal family in 2020, Harry and Meghan no longer have guaranteed police protection in Britain. "They may simply feel that the country isn't safe for the whole family," Royston said, noting that Harry's legal battle to have his full-time, government-funded bodyguards reinstated is ongoing.
Despite Meghan's absence from the UK Invictus Games service, Royston emphasized that she has been a strong supporter of the event in the past. "Meghan has generally been a great supporter of Invictus," he said. "She's continued to attend the tournaments, and also not just the actual games themselves, but the 'one year to go' promotional events, too. So, why not this one in Britain, especially since it's a whole program marking the 10-year anniversary?"
The decision to bypass Britain and focus on the Nigeria visit may be a reflection of Meghan's desire to protect her personal peace and prioritize her family's well-being. While no dates have been confirmed for the couple's trip to Nigeria, they are expected to take part in cultural activities and events connected with the Invictus Games, which Nigeria first competed in as a nation in 2023.
