King Charles recently celebrated his 75th birthday, but it seems the occasion was not without its share of heartbreak.
In the midst of ongoing tensions, the monarch reportedly did not want to engage in another war of words with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to a royal commentator.
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Initially, the Sunday Times reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had declined an invitation to King Charles’ birthday party.
However, a spokesperson for the couple later clarified that there had been no contact between them and the king regarding the event.
The British press headlines were misreported, and it is unfortunate that this story caused confusion.
A source familiar with the situation revealed that the palace has had no contact with Harry and Meghan.
This lack of communication has sparked a new war of words between the Sussexes and the Windsor family, as noted by royal commentator Rebecca English during the Secret Palace podcast.
The king and the royal family have chosen not to publicly respond to the spokesperson’s statement, avoiding further escalation.
English further explained that the palace has refrained from discussing the king’s private affairs to prevent getting embroiled in another conflict with the Sussexes.
One royal commentator even described the ongoing dispute between the Duke and Duchess as self-inflicted, stating that it seemed unnecessary for them to hurt themselves in this manner.
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California.
They currently reside in Montecito with their two children, four-year-old Prince Archie and two-year-old Princess Lilibeth.
Despite their departure from the royal family, the couple has made occasional appearances in Britain, such as at the Platinum Jubilee and the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
On King Charles’ birthday, Prince Harry reached out to his father to convey his regards.
Meghan Markle also had a conversation with the king, as reported by the Telegraph.
This olive branch from the Sussexes appears to be a significant change in their behavior, as they have had limited communication with senior members of the royal family in 2023.
However, despite this recent contact, it is expected that Harry and Meghan will spend Christmas in California, as they have done for the past three years.
Princess Lilibeth has yet to experience the Christmas season in the UK, but this year, both Archie and Lilibeth will have the opportunity to be introduced to British traditions, according to a royal expert.