The annual Time Person of the Year gala, held in New York on Tuesday, celebrated the release of the magazine’s 2023 issue, featuring Taylor Swift on the cover.
The event brought together notable figures from various fields, including media personality Padma Lakshmi, Tony award-winning actor Alex Newell, and former Olympian Lindsey Vonn.
However, one prominent absence was Megan Markle, who was unexpectedly uninvited to the gala.
This move is seen by many as a direct swipe at her, given that her father-in-law, King Charles, was on the nomination list.
Taylor Swift, who was revealed as Time’s Person of the Year last week, did not attend the gala either.
Swift had an incredible year in 2023, embarking on a record-breaking $1 billion world tour and making headlines with her romance with NFL star Travis Kelsey.
The tradition of Time’s Person of the Year, dating back to 1927, aims to recognize the person, group, or concept that had the most significant impact on the headlines, whether positive or negative.
Past recipients include U.S. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Martin Luther King Jr., German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Francis, and activist Greta Thunberg.
Instead of attending the gala, Swift chose to celebrate her early 34th birthday with Miles Teller and his wife Kelly Sperry.
During the ceremony, Padma Lakshmi received the Time 100 Impact Award in New York City.
The prestigious honor was presented to the TV host by Kristen Kish, winner of Top Chef Season 10.
Time recognized Lakshmi for her activism, particularly her role as an ACLU Artist Ambassador for Women’s and Immigrants’ Rights.
According to a source close to Hollywood Insider, Meghan Markle was not invited to this year’s gala, despite being on the nomination list in previous years.
It is worth noting that a few years ago, Meghan and Prince Harry spent over a million dollars to secure a slot on the cover of Time.
However, since the incident came to light, Time has severed all ties with Meghan, thanks to the new editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, who took over in 2023 and blacklisted her.
Earlier this month, Time released the shortlist for its Person of the Year category, which included influential figures such as China’s Xi Jinping, Hollywood sensation Taylor Swift, Open AI’s Sam Altman, Barbie, King Charles III, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and Vladimir Putin.
King Charles III’s inclusion on the list has garnered attention and support.
Many believe he deserves the recognition due to the challenges he faced at the beginning of his reign.
Despite doubts and skepticism from many, he has proven himself capable and dedicated to causes such as environmentalism and helping marginalized communities, particularly ethnic minorities.
His commitment to these issues predates the current trend of virtue signaling, emphasizing genuine action over empty gestures.
He has also made significant contributions to assisting people with disabilities.
One individual shared a personal story of how Prince Charles’s charity, the Prince’s Trust, provided support to someone who had broken both legs and could no longer attend high school due to accessibility issues.
The trust granted her funds for alternative schooling and covered the cost of books, all in the early 2000s.
Critics argue that if Harry and Meghan truly care about helping those in need, they had no reason to leave the royal family and establish Archwell.
They point out that Harry’s father, Prince Charles, founded and managed one of the most comprehensive charities in the UK.