Late Queen’s Trooping the Colour decision sealed Harry and Meghan’s fate

The late Queen Elizabeth II made a significant decision regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ahead of the 2022 Trooping the Colour event. This decision, which limited the balcony appearance to working royals, effectively excluded Harry, Meghan, and Prince Andrew from the lineup. The move was symbolic, reflecting the Queen’s stance on the Sussexes’ departure from royal duties and their subsequent public criticisms of the royal family. This decision was interpreted as sealing Harry and Meghan’s fate within the monarchy, marking a clear distinction between working and non-working royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan had stepped down from their royal roles in January 2020, relocating to the United States and subsequently making several public statements criticizing the royal family. Their appearances at Trooping the Colour in 2018 and 2019 were highly anticipated, but the pandemic led to scaled-down events in 2020 and 2021. By 2022, the Queen’s decision to include only working royals on the balcony during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations was seen as a significant moment, reflecting the evolving dynamics within the royal family.

The Queen’s decision was reportedly made after careful consideration, emphasizing the importance of official public duties. The 2022 Trooping the Colour event saw the Queen joined by senior royals such as then-Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and others, but Harry and Meghan were notably absent from the prominent balcony appearance. They watched the event from a window and were not part of the carriage procession, signaling their new status outside the core working royal group.

This decision set a precedent that was continued by King Charles III during the 2023 Trooping the Colour event. He maintained a limited balcony appearance, including only key working royals and marking one of the smallest groupings in recent history. Harry and Meghan were not invited to the 2023 event, further underscoring their separation from the working royal family. Instead, they remained in California, continuing their lives independent of their former royal roles.

Despite the significant exclusion from these major royal events, Harry did return to the UK in May 2023 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, he did not reunite with any family members during this visit, highlighting the ongoing distance between him and the rest of the royal family. His relationship with King Charles remains strained, with limited contact even in light of the King’s cancer diagnosis, which only resulted in a brief private meeting in February.

This evolving situation reflects the broader challenges and changes within the royal family, as they navigate the complexities of public roles, personal relationships, and the expectations of modern royalty. The late Queen’s decision regarding Trooping the Colour has had lasting implications, illustrating the fine line between personal affection and public duty within the monarchy.