Any royals hoping for a happy family reunion and reconnecting with baby Archie this summer will be very disappointed.
While Prince Harry is expected to attend Prince Philip’s 100th birthday and the Trooping of Color in June, as well as the highly anticipated unveiling of a statue in memory of Diana at Kensington Palace in July, a new report says his wife Meghan Markle and son Archie stays in California.
However, it’s not because of hard feelings (of which there are said to be many). Sources told the Daily Mail that she will not be attending for “personal and practical” reasons.
The family is concerned that the couple’s involvement in larger events could harm them, the paper said.
“It should be strongly emphasized that there is still an element of uncertainty due to the unpredictable COVID situation, but it is understood that the Duke will most likely return alone,” said a source. “This is a personal and practical decision by the couple, but it would certainly help officials navigate what is likely to be a fairly tricky situation.”
Another source told the paper: “Her Majesty made it very clear when they left the UK that Harry and Meghan were still very much loved members of her own family and would be very welcome to attend family events. That still applies. In practice, however, it involves a certain amount of diplomacy. There is still a lot of distance between Harry and many family members, especially his brother. Nobody wants a repeat of the Commonwealth Service. “
During the service last year, Harry and Meghan appeared to have been coldly rejected by Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton – the first time the couples had seen each other since Megxit.
This summer marks Harry’s first time seeing his family since early March, but they haven’t taken Archie with them. The family has not seen the child since he was six months old.
“Harry wants to come back for the big birthdays of The Queen and Prince Philip,” a third source told The Mail. ‘But it looks like it will be him alone. When Meghan returns, it feels like it would overshadow the occasion. People would only look at the “drama” of it all. Of course she would be welcome, but a decision not to show up would put off that headache for a while at least. “
Harry is expected to stay at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, the house he and Meghan decided to keep as a UK base.