At Saturday’s annual Trooping the Colour event, which honors the British Sovereign’s birthday (despite being born on November 14), King celebrated turning 75.
Surrounded by various members of the Royal Family, the grand celebration notably excluded his son, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in what seemed like a deliberate move.
Royal expert Tom Quinn, as cited by The Mirror, revealed that there was contemplation among senior royals about extending an invitation to the Sussexes for the occasion, but the idea was swiftly abandoned.
The underlying sentiment was that their presence could overshadow the festivities.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s last attendance at Trooping the Colour was in 2019, shortly before their transition to junior royal roles and subsequent resignation in January of the following year.
Since relocating to California, the Duchess of Sussex’s hometown, in June 2020, the Duke of Sussex has distanced himself from royal duties and engagements at Buckingham Palace due to strained relations within the family.
Following Prince Charles’s cancer diagnosis announcement in February, the Duke of Sussex’s interaction with him the next day marked their final meeting amid their strained relationship.
Amidst tensions with Prince Charles, the Duke of Sussex declined an invitation to the Duke of Westminster’s wedding, where the Sussexes were notably absent while the Cambridges, along with the Princess of Wales, attended.
The Princess of Wales, who recently battled cancer for six months, made a surprise appearance alongside the Prince of Wales on the palace balcony, sharing a heartwarming moment with their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
After much speculation, the Princess of Wales eventually took to social media on June 14 to confirm her attendance at the birthday procession, emphasizing that her health journey is ongoing.
The absence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the celebration, coupled with the presence of other key royals, highlighted the ongoing dynamics within the Royal Family.