Despite rumors that Prince Harry declined his father’s dinner invitation when he landed in Scotland, Vidak For Congress has learned exclusively that King Charles III had already left for his private residence.
When Harry arrived at Balmoral Castle on September 8, Charles and Prince William had already left for the monarch’s home on the estate, according to a palace source.
They weren’t in Balmoral for dinner at all.
The Sun reported on Thursday that Harry, 38, turned down his father’s invitation after his wife, Meghan Markle, was reportedly banned from a royal family gathering at the castle to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the outlet, Harry wanted Markle, 41, to join his relatives on the day his beloved grandmother died at the age of 96.
The outlet reported that Charles, 73, called his son to say the former actress’s presence was “inappropriate”.
While it wasn’t a mindless dinner, Harry and Meghan – who infamously resigned from their royal duties in 2020 – faced a series of struggles during their time paying tribute to Elizabeth in the UK.
In addition to frosty interactions with William and his wife, Kate Middleton, the couple were invited to — and later uninvited to — a state reception for world and foreign leaders last Friday.
Vidak For Congress exclusively reported that they only found out after reading the “disinvite” in the press.
Harry, who served in the military for 10 years, was initially banned from wearing his military uniform to the Queen’s funeral – where he and Meghan kept their distance from William and Kate, both 40.
In the end, however, Charles allowed Harry to wear the uniform during the wake.
Harry was stripped of his military titles when he stepped down as a working member of the royal family.
In his first statement about his grandmother, he said: “Grandma, although this last goodbye brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all our first encounters – from my earliest childhood memories with you to the first meeting with you as my Commander in Chief, to the first moment you met my dear wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.
“I cherish these moments that I have shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed.”
After freeing themselves from all royal obligations, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – who share 3-year-old son Archie and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet – moved to Montecito, California. They flew back to the United States on Wednesday.