King Charles has decided not to invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to this year’s Trooping the Colour, but sources say Prince Harry remains unfazed by the snub.
Since relocating to the United States nearly four years ago, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have largely distanced themselves from royal events, seeking more independent lives.
King Charles' decision aligns with Harry's past feelings of being a "spare" compared to his brother, Prince William. As a working royal and honorary colonel, Prince William rides on horseback during the event, while Harry, no longer a working royal, would be relegated to watching from the sidelines.
Last year, royal expert Tessa Dunlop told the Mirror, “Whether Harry was invited or not (probably not – why would you invite someone who was not going to attend?) is a moot point. Harry is no longer a working royal. Trooping the Colour is a job for our working royals. The key word there is 'job'. Saturday will see them dressed up and on parade, doing what they do best, providing the military, which depends on its hierarchical structures, with a symbolic figurehead.”
Dunlop also reflected on Harry's change in status since he can no longer wear his military uniform or use his royal titles. She noted that his role as "spare" to William was often uncomfortable for him. "We now know that playing second fiddle (spare) to William chafed, and I suspect he is also relieved that courtesy of his new civilian identity he does not have to cross the Atlantic for yet another ceremonial pit-stop," she said.
She further explained, "With family tensions unresolved, these days the prince's priority in Britain is his many legal cases. Harry is a changed man – he has opted for America and freedom from an institution over the British royal family and their unique version of duty. For fans of the Sussexes in Britain, his absence will be a loss but one we need to get used to.”
