Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appear not to have been invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s pre-funeral reception at Buckingham Palace, according to a new report from Britain’s Telegraph.
The couple received an invitation to the grand event, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camila, for world leaders and foreign royals. But they have apparently now been informed that only working British royals are welcome.
According to the outlet, it remained unclear why Harry, 38, and Markle, 41, were ever invited, with royal aides insisting they are not expected to attend.
Sources told the outlet that the couple “seemed stunned” by the apparent confusion.
President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among hundreds of heads of state to descend on Monday for the monarch’s state funeral in London.
The Queen died on September 8 at the age of 96 after a historic 70-year reign.
Markle and Harry have been in the UK for some time, mourning the Queen along with Prince William, Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal family. The pair have also reconnected with the British people on public outings.
Markle and Harry in particular raised eyebrows when they were spotted holding hands during the monarch’s procession on Wednesday – because, again, they are no longer working members of the royal family. But also because their expression of affection was a ‘violation’ of protocol.
“Harry and Meghan are grieving relatives and are under no obligation to follow royal protocol,” body language expert Inbaal Honigman told British newspaper The Daily Express in defense of Harry and Markle.
The parents of two – who share son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 15 months – gave up their royal duties as Duke and Duchess of Sussex in January 2020 amid lingering issues, including media scrutiny and inner turmoil within the family. They have since moved from England to Markle’s native California.
Confusion over the presence of Harry and the former ‘Suits’ actress at the pre-funeral reception follows mixed reports about the Prince’s right to wear a military uniform during his home visit.
Harry’s father, Charles, 73, eventually gave him permission to wear such clothes during a Saturday night vigil for Elizabeth.