Prince Philip's funeral: Where is Meghan Markle? How Duchess will honor Duke of Edinburgh from California home
Meghan Markle has recently been at the receiving end of backlash for an ill-timed interview with Oprah Winfrey. While the 'Suits' star was trolled and criticized for giving the interview along with her husband Prince Harry while Prince Philip had been admitted in hospital, this time around, the backlash is even more intense following Philip's death and her inability to attend his funeral.
Despite both Harry and Meghan clarifying on the show that they had great respect for the Queen and Philip, and Oprah also confirming that it was neither the Queen nor Philip who had questioned Harry regarding the color of their son Archie's skin, the criticism has been heavy, especially from people in the UK. At this time, Harry has decided to attend the funeral but not Meghan.
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Where is Meghan Markle?
Meghan has stayed back in their home in Montecito, California. A source close to Meghan was quoted by Harpers Bazaar as saying, "The Duchess has made every effort to travel alongside The Duke, but unfortunately, she did not receive medical clearance from her physician."
The Duchess of Sussex is pregnant with their second child, a daughter, and the reason given why she was unable to travel to the UK. Amid the scandals and controversies surrounding her Oprah interview, she reportedly wanted to support Harry and wanted to travel for the funeral.
A source quoted by E! News said that Markle would have accompanied Harry had she not been too far along in her pregnancy. The source said, "Meghan wishes she could have flown to the UK to support her husband but has been advised not to due to her pregnancy. She would have put all the family tension aside to be there with Harry," and added that the couple "are still not on amazing terms with the family."
On the other hand, it has also been reported that Harry's trip to the UK comes at an opportune time. A source was quoted as saying that it has allowed him and Prince William to continue "working on their relationship" after an apparent fallout. This insider was also quoted as saying, "Harry wants to make sure Meghan and the baby are healthy and not involved in stressful situations."
According to a report in Page Six, Harry reportedly wants to return to the US as soon as possible to be with Meghan and reunite with their son Archie.
Philip's funeral is being held on Saturday, April 17, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The funeral is scheduled to begin at 3 pm local time and coincide with a national minute of silence. The funeral will see only 30 people in attendance due to coronavirus restrictions.
Though Meghan could not accompany Harry to London, she has made 'private arrangements' to honor the Duke of Edinburgh from the comforts of her California home, according to reports. Buckingham Palace confirmed that loved ones who will not be able to make it to the funeral will make "private arrangements" to remember the Duke of Edinburgh. This also includes Meghan, who will also be able to watch the funeral on a special live stream, reports said.