Trooping the Colour, a longstanding military parade in London dating back to 1748, serves as an official celebration of the reigning British monarch’s birthday.
This prestigious royal event is broadcast globally, drawing attention from audiences far and wide.
Every year, members of the royal family, both active and inactive, come together at Buckingham Palace to witness the impressive flypast and interact with the enthusiastic crowds below.
Recent reports have surfaced suggesting that King Charles has made a decision regarding the participation of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the upcoming 2024 Trooping the Colour.
It would be the first time this event takes place during his reign, and Charles seems adamant about excluding the couple from any official involvement.
Sources cited by the Daily Mail reveal that Charles has communicated to top officials at the Ministry of Defence his stance on not extending invitations to non-working royals residing abroad, such as Harry and Meghan, for the balcony appearance or organizational roles.
Following their transition away from senior royal duties and subsequent relocation to the United States in 2020, Harry and Meghan have not been part of the Trooping the Colour ceremonies.
The event scheduled for next year would have presented them with the opportunity to participate under the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Typically, the occasion brings together all heirs and their spouses on the palace balcony, standing alongside other active royal family members.
Harry and Meghan, as representatives of the British monarchy on the global stage, would have anticipated attending such a significant event.
The decision made by King Charles to exclude Harry and Meghan from Trooping the Colour is being interpreted by some experts as a deliberate move to diminish their standing within the royal hierarchy.
Reports suggest that Charles is unwilling to allow the couple to leverage their royal titles without fulfilling official responsibilities.
Close sources connected to Harry and Meghan express disappointment and perceive the exclusion as a petty and spiteful act.
For Harry and Meghan, being left out of Trooping the Colour represents a considerable setback.
They had envisioned using the event as a platform to reintroduce themselves to the British public on an international scale, especially on the occasion of King Charles’s inaugural birthday as the sovereign.
However, Charles’s decision underscores the principle that participation in such ceremonial events is reserved for core royal members actively engaged in official duties on behalf of the Queen and the nation.