Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Snubbed from Royal Plans Again

King Charles Excludes Harry and Meghan from Summer Gathering

Prince Harry and Meghan MarklePhoto byGetty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face another blow in their strained relationship with the British royal family, as they are once again excluded from festivities. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been notably absent from the royal family’s summer retreat at Balmoral Castle. The sprawling 50,000-acre estate, a favored escape for the royals that was once associated with Queen Elizabeth, has once again hosted the family without including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources close to the royal family tells People that the exclusion of Harry and Meghan, who have not returned to the UK with their children since the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, highlights the ongoing and deepening estrangement. 

For Prince Harry, this absence underscores a significant personal and familial divide, exacerbated by unresolved issues surrounding his security and strained communications with King Charles.

Prince Harry’s long standing connection to Balmoral, dating back to his youth, contrasts sharply with Meghan Markle’s lack of visits to the Scottish estate. Their exclusion this year follows a history of royal discontent since their departure from official duties in 2020. 

Despite a temporary thaw in relations, including a brief meeting with his father in February 2023, communication between the Prince and King Charles has reportedly deteriorated to the point of complete silence.

Prince Harry, King Charles, Prince WilliamPhoto byGetty Images

Central to this tension is the ongoing battle over security. Harry’s concerns about the safety of his family, especially in light of past traumatic events like his mother Princess Diana’s demise, have been a major source of conflict. 

The Duke's attempts to reinstate his police protection, stripped in 2020, have been unsuccessful so far, and Buckingham Palace's position on the matter remains opaque.

The rift extends to Harry's relationship with his brother, Prince William, with reports suggesting that this bond is also significantly strained. While some palace insiders claim that public disclosures in Harry’s memoir "Spare" have eroded trust, others argue that adequate security might alleviate the need for such revelations.

As the Sussexes continue their life in Montecito, California, Meghan’s support for Harry is unwavering. However, she is reportedly concerned about the personal toll these disputes are taking on him and wishes for a resolution that allows them to move forward without such burdens.