Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Not Invited to Trooping the Colour

It's still unclear who will be waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony this year at the Trooping the Colour on June 15, but People confirmed the two people who didn't get an invite: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. For the second year in a row, the Sussexes were not invited to the annual event, which celebrates the monarch's birthday and often includes a photo op of the royal family taking in the sights and sounds of the spectacular. Previously, Meghan and Harry attended the ceremony in 2018 and 2019 and returned to the event in 2022—even then, however, they didn't watch from the balcony, choosing instead to sit with other non-working royals. The couple hasn't been back to the annual tradition since.

Royal fans still aren't sure whether or not Kate Middleton will make an appearance at the Trooping the Colour this year, either, since she's been staying away from public events to rest and heal from her cancer treatments. She has participated in the event every year since 2011. King Charles's attendance is confirmed, though he will be skipping his usual horseback ride and is set to travel in a horse-drawn carriage alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.

After the royal family canceled almost all of its scheduled appearances because of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement of a general election on July 4, there was speculation that this year's Trooping the Colour might not even happen. However, on May 29, the palace confirmed that the event would go on as planned. The royals clarified that they would be rescheduling or canceling events that "may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign."

Harry and Meghan have been living in Montecito, California, since 2020, when they stepped away from their roles as senior royals. Their trips back to the U.K. have been rare, though Harry did see his father after the king announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Both Harry and Meghan also attended Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022. Most recently, Harry returned for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in May.

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