PALACE CONFIDENTIAL: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘really are in exile’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle really are ‘in exile’ after the Palace’s ‘significant’ decision to not invite them to the King’s Birthday Parade, according to the journalist behind the story, Richard Eden.

‘It’s significant, when Harry and Meghan quit royal duties, officials were very keen to stress that they would still be invited to occasions such as Trooping the Colour,’ he tells Mail+’s Palace Confidential. ‘So the fact that they haven’t been invited is very significant.’

The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English points out that combined with the lease on his Frogmore Cottage property running out, it adds to his ‘rootlessness’ and the pair’s distance from the country they once called home.

‘It really emphasises the slightly rootless nature that he has in the UK,’ she says. ‘Truthfully everyone I speak to says they can’t ever see Meghan coming back here, they really can’t. But Harry will need to come back here for practical reasons.’

Eden believes that ‘it really is an exile for Harry and Meghan now’.

This year’s event is particularly significant because it is the first since Charles succeeded to the throne last September. But while the British Royal Family usually turn out in force for the occasion, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited, according to The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden. 

He wrote in his column: ‘When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit royal duties three years ago, Queen Elizabeth said they would “always be much loved members of my family”. 

‘And Buckingham Palace officials were keen to stress that they would continue to be invited to family events. I hear that Prince Harry and Meghan have not, however, been invited to the King’s Birthday Parade next weekend.

‘It will be the first time in Harry’s life that he has not been welcome at the monarch’s official birthday celebrations.’

‘I’m afraid it’s a reflection of the state of relations at the moment,’ a source said.

Harry and Meghan travelled from California for last year’s Trooping the Colour, which became part of the late Queen’s platinum jubilee weekend.

The couple were invited by the late monarch to watch the ceremony with other members of the Royal Family from offices overlooking Horse Guards Parade.

They were not, however, asked to be on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the official flypast later in the day.

‘It’s significant, when Harry and Meghan quit royal duties, officials were very keen to stress that they would still be invited to occasions such as Trooping the Colour,’ Richard Eden (pictured) tells Mail+’s Palace Confidential. ‘So the fact that they haven’t been invited is very significant’

The official birthday of the monarch is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour. The troops participating in the parade are drawn of fully trained, operational troops from the Household Division.

Elsewhere in the latest instalment on Mail+’s Palace Confidential series, The Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales’ approach to their duties.

During the episode, the expert noted how Prince William and Kate quite often appear in public without one another.

Earlier this week, the Prince of Wales attended a documentary screening with his aunt the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Explaining why Kate didn’t join William on this occasion, Rebecca said: ‘They’re quite respectful of each other’s big passions.

‘And there’s the kids as well. They always try to make sure that one of them is around to do the school run at some point during the day.

The Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English (pictured) discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales’ approach to their duties in the latest installment of the Mail+’s Palace Confidential series

‘They want to be hands on parents and they can’t do it if both of them are there doing a job in the evening.’

Rebecca then agreed with host Jo Elvin that it was a ‘perfectly normal household arrangement’. 

Noting that it was ‘quite unusual’ for the Duchess of Edinburgh to accompany Prince William on an engagement, the Daily Mail’s Diary editor Richard Eden said: ‘She’s quite interested in conservation as well.

‘So it was quite a natural one for Sophie to attend […] the Palace thought it would be nice for Sophie to join him because of her interest in the subject.

On Tuesday night, The Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales – and royal experts said it’s a clear sign of just how important Sophie has become to The Royal Family.

The mother-of-two, 58, dressed in a £1,350 purple printed midi dress by Erdem, attended the screening of Rhino Man at the newly renovated Battersea Power Station in south-west London, alongside Prince William, 40.

It’s a rare sight to see Prince Edward’s wife on an outing with only the heir to the British throne – but royal experts have said this is a clear indication of her new and improved status within The Firm.

During the episode, the expert noted how Prince William and Kate (pictured together) quite often appear in public without one another

Speaking to FEMAIL, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair’s engagement together was ‘unusual, but it highlighted Sophie’s role as one of the hardest working members of The Royal Family.’

‘William and Catherine have a unique profile as the world’s most glamorous royal couple with enormous soft power reach. Sophie has clearly established herself as their indispensable support,’ said the expert. 

He added that the duchess’ ‘considerable charm’ and similar style to Princess Anne – with both sharing a ‘low-key approach’ – has made her a great addition to The Firm. 

The royal expert continued: ‘There is periodic interest in what she wears, but she and her husband Edward are not in the eye of the media storm. That is the way they prefer it.’

However they are pivotal to the monarchy’s charitable role, which is one of its main functions. Yesterday’s event put this firmly in the spotlight. 

Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis pose for a group picture with volunteers who are taking part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, west of London on May 8, 2023, where the family helped to renovate and improve the building

‘Her style is similar to Princess Anne, as she prefers a low-key approach to her duties. They have included trips to areas of conflict such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.’ 

Royal author Phil Dampier, meanwhile, explained: ‘Sophie is becoming a big star in The Royal Family and boy do they need her!

‘With Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene the King has got a slimmed down monarchy, but maybe it’s slimmed down too much.

‘He and the Queen, and Princess Anne are in their seventies and others like the Duke of Kent are approaching retirement.

‘Sophie is a much bigger star than her husband Edward. She has a natural warmth and is good on walkabouts. She has been quietly getting on with the job, rather like Anne, and made several visits abroad.’ 

‘She has matured greatly and seeing her by William’s side is an indication of her new status,’ the author concluded.

On Tuesday night, the Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales (pictured together at a private screening of Rhino Man)

Earlier this week, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK magazine how Sophie – who’s previously been dubbed The Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ by royal author Victoria Murphy – has the ‘common touch’ thanks to her her ‘normal life’ before marrying into The Royal Family.

‘It is so much more evident now that Sophie is a key member of the list of working royals,’ Jennie said. ‘I think people have really taken her into their hearts, especially after she showed her obvious grief at losing Prince Philip and the Queen.’ 

The former PR girl, who’s been married to Prince Edward for 24 years, was said to be a firm favourite of Queen Elizabeth’s, who reportedly viewed her as The Royal Family’s safest pair of hands.  

Jennie added: ‘Sophie is absolutely one of the new female stars of the show – elegant, engaging and empathetic’. 

The senior royal is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, including Childline, and was recently spotted out and about putting her best foot forward at the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in London.