The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Trooping the Color together in 2018 but were reportedly not invited to this year’s ceremony. Prince Harry reflected on the awkward silence that ensued after Meghan Markle made a joke during her first birthday celebration for the late Queen.
In his memoir, Prince Harry recounted their attendance at the official June celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday in 2018, shortly after their royal wedding. The couple had just returned to the UK from their 10-day honeymoon in the Mediterranean and were making their first public appearance as newlyweds. Meghan wore a baby pink off-the-shoulder outfit by Carolina Herrera, complemented by a matching pink charmer, while Prince Harry donned his full military uniform.
During the royal event, the couple traveled together in a carriage before joining the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the well-wishers. The photos from the occasion showed the royal family in high spirits, with Meghan seen smiling as she stood between her husband and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
However, according to Prince Harry, the celebratory mood changed after Meghan made a joke about the event to Kate. Meghan asked Kate what she thought of the celebration, and when Kate asked Meghan about her first Trooping the Color ensemble, Meghan jokingly replied, “Colorful,” as Harry wrote, and the yawning silence threatened to engulf them all.
In the excerpt, Harry mentioned that the awkward exchange was followed days later by Meghan’s first royal outing with the Queen. Despite the initial tension, Meghan and the Queen bonded over their love of dogs. Harry revealed that the couple also discussed motherhood, with Meghan expressing her desire to be a mother.
Harry further shared that the Queen gave Meghan advice on inducing labor. Reflecting on their successful exit, Harry wrote that he and Meghan believed things were going to change now. However, Harry noted that the press coverage of the trip did not reflect reality. Newspapers portrayed Meghan as pushy, arrogant, and ignorant of royal protocol because she made the mistake of getting into the car before the Queen, while in fact, she did exactly what the Queen had instructed her to do.
Despite the slight awkwardness following Meghan’s joke in 2018, the couple attended Trooping the Color in 2019 and, more recently, in 2022 when they visited England for the first time since stepping down as senior members of the royal family.
However, it is expected that the Duke and Duchess will not attend King Charles’ first Trooping the Color celebration today, as reports indicate that they did not receive an invitation to the ceremony. The Independent has reached out to Buckingham Palace and a representative for Sussex for comment.
The King’s Birthday Parade, which marks the first time the event is held during Charles’ reign, is expected to bring together most of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
