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Here's why Meghan Markle may not attend the Queen's funeral scheduled for Sep 19

It may 'not be possible for her to stay the whole time,' says one royal expert
UPDATED SEP 11, 2022
Meghan Markle may not attend the Queen's funeral (Ben Birchall - WPA Pool / Getty Images, Stefan Wermuth - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
Meghan Markle may not attend the Queen's funeral (Ben Birchall - WPA Pool / Getty Images, Stefan Wermuth - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

WINDSOR, ENGLAND: The Duchess of Sussex may not turn up for the funeral of her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. According to Fox News Digital, royal expert and former British public affairs official Shannon Felton Spence has revealed that Meghan Markle may be absent during the funeral service which is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 19, at 11 am at the Westminster Abbey.

Prince Harry and Meghan were already in the UK when the Queen died and Harry rushed to be with the rest of his family at Balmoral Castle. Now, the royal expert believes that Markle may return to California ahead of the funeral to be with their children, Archie, 3 and Lilibet, 1. "Harry will likely stay in the UK until the funeral. I can’t imagine Meghan won’t attend, but again from a human perspective, Meghan was expecting to leave the kids for six days, not weeks, so [it] may not be possible for her to stay the whole time," said Spence. 

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk together to meet members of the public on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk together to meet members of the public on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England (Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK and moved to California after stepping down from their royal duties. Their statements against the royal family, heightened after their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, widened the rift between the royals at Windsor and the Sussexes. The duo were on a trip to Germany and the UK for several engagements, including the WellChild Awards in London on the night of the Queen's demise. 

With the Queen's health deteriorating, members of the royal family rushed to her side. Prince Harry, too, hurried to Scotland, arriving at the Balmoral castle merely 20 minutes after the news of the Queen's death had been released to the public. According to royal expert Spence, the fact that Harry arrived separately speaks volumes of the tensions between the Sussexes and other members of the family. "I think it is telling Harry was in a different car, so by the optics — Harry arriving and leaving alone — tells you what the relationship and tone was like between families," she said, adding that Harry was also the first to leave the castle.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex boards a flight at Aberdeen Airport on September 9, 2022 in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and acceded the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex boards a flight at Aberdeen Airport on September 9, 2022 in Aberdeen, United Kingdom (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

All this while, Meghan remained at Frogmore Cottage, their residence at Windsor. Kate Middleton, too, did not accompany her husband and stayed behind, a few hundred feet away at the Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with her children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4. 

Now, with the Queen's funeral scheduled on September 19, odds are that the Duchess of Sussex will return to be with her young children. Meanwhile, the royal family will also be keen to "play down the ‘feud’ narrative, given their more pressing new issues, processing the enormity of the death of the Queen and the intense scrutiny faced by King Charles as he settles into his new role," according to Eloise Parker speaking to Fox New Digital. The feud between the two brothers was even more evident given the fact the two were "historically such a tight unit" and would have certainly "arrived or left together" a decade ago. 

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet members of the public on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet members of the public on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England (Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

An olive branch for the Sussexes?

Referencing the King's first address as a monarch, royal expert Parker said, "King Charles went out of his way to voice his ‘love for Harry and Meghan as they build their lives overseas.' It was a touching way to acknowledge acceptance of his son's new life path whilst making clear his continued support as a father." This has opened up the way for Harry and Meghan to attend the Queen's funeral, but there is "no expectation that their very young children will attend." 

Meghan hasn't yet left for the US and was seen on a walkabout in Windsor Castle with her husband, Prince Harry, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton. This was their first public appearance together after the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020.







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