The royal family is still finalizing their plans to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's death in September. However, it is highly unlikely that Prince Harry will be included in the occasion, according to royal expert Gareth Russell. He mentioned that it is unknown if an invitation was extended to Harry and Meghan Markle, but he would be surprised if they accepted it. This is because they had previously declined an invitation to visit when Queen Elizabeth was still alive, and the family dynamics have not changed significantly since then.
The author stated that Prince Harry supposedly still desires and anticipates a complete apology, with the phrase "Recollections may vary" continuing to reflect his perspective, to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether they were invited, yet it would be surprising if they accepted and attended.
According to a source who spoke to Us on Wednesday, August 9, King Charles III and Prince William are still in the process of planning how they will commemorate the anniversary of Her Majesty's passing. The insider stated that the wounds still feel fresh and it has been difficult for them to devise a celebration that will capture the same level of dignity and respect that the queen embodied. There will be some form of acknowledgment or event on September 8, although the specific details are still being finalized.
According to the source, it is expected that Charles, aged 74, would take time for personal reflection alongside his wife, Queen Camilla. Additionally, if an official event were to occur, it is unlikely that Harry, aged 38, and Meghan, aged 42, would attend.
Prince Harry. Matt Baron/Shutterstock
In September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced the passing of the late queen at the age of 96. After a period of mourning throughout the United Kingdom, the royal family gathered for her state funeral later that month. Charles, who became king immediately after Elizabeth's death, was accompanied by his three siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. Both of Charles' sons, William, aged 41, and Harry, also attended the funeral and walked together in the official procession. The strained relationship between Harry and William, which began in 2020 when Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their roles as senior royals, has been a source of tension.
Harry and Meghan have openly discussed their royal conflicts in their Netflix docuseries named after themselves and in Harry's upcoming memoir, Spare. Published in January, Harry's book includes shocking claims about Charles, Camilla, William, and Princess Kate.
Although the royal family has yet to publicly address these allegations, a confidential source revealed in January that the Firm's connection with Harry has been severely damaged.
Russell pointed out on Thursday that there will be limited interaction between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family in the foreseeable future. There are no significant upcoming royal events such as a coronation, wedding, or christenings that would necessitate a complete family reunion. Notably, even during the coronation, not all of the Sussexes were in attendance. In May, while Harry attended his father's crowning ceremony, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, stayed at home to celebrate Archie's birthday. Harry himself also left the coronation shortly after the ceremony concluded, as it coincided with Archie's special day.
Russell added that the next gathering of all of them could either be a significant and successful bridge-building endeavor, or, unfortunately, it could be another solemn occasion, such as a funeral.