Why isn’t Meghan Markle attending Prince Philip's funeral? She made every possible effort 'to be there with Harry'
As the UK prepares for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, one key person is missing from the action -- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Philip died at the age of 99 on Friday, April 9. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will be attending his grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral that’s scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 17.
Prince Harry is right now at his and Meghan’s official UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, where the Sussexes lived prior to their move to California. He is reportedly quarantining in line with coronavirus regulations ahead of the funeral. This is the first time that Harry is back in Britain in more than a year -- since he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from their roles as senior royals and moved across the Atlantic.
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At the same time, it has been little more than a month since the couple gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey, where Meghan discussed her suicidal thoughts during her time working as a royal. She also made allegations of racism against an unnamed royal. But Meghan is not in the UK, standing beside Harry in this tragic affair.
Why isn't Meghan Markle attending Prince Phillip's funeral?
Meghan, despite wanting to be by her husband’s side, had to stay behind at their home in California. As per reports, the Duchess of Sussex’s decision to remain in Montecito was driven by her doctors’ advice that it wouldn’t be safe to travel at this stage in her pregnancy.
As per reports, Meghan wanted to be able to support Prince Harry and made every possible effort to fly to the UK with him. The Duchess of Sussex was willing to “put all the family tension aside to be there with Harry,” a royal source told the press.
After all, post the Winfrey interview, things have been tense between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family. During the interview, Meghan addressed reports that she made Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, cry over a disagreement regarding bridesmaid dresses for Meghan and Harry's wedding. "The reverse happened," Meghan told Winfrey, revealing that Meghan was the one who cried.
This reportedly angered William quite a lot. "William is very protective of Kate and can get very angry," said Penny Junor, a biographer of both Prince William and Prince Harry. "For Meghan to name Kate in a negative light is worse than being attacked himself." But there is more. Reportedly, Prince Harry also doesn’t want his pregnant wife “involved in stressful situations.”
"It was always a given that Harry would return to England for his grandfather's passing," a California source told People Magazine, adding that after Philip's death both Meghan and Harry "were in contact with the Queen." The source said, "Meghan expressed condolences. The Queen understands why she can't travel at the moment.”
Prince Harry is also planning on flying back to California soon reportedly because he doesn’t want to stay in the UK for much time after the funeral. The Duke of Sussex, per sources, will be “hurrying back to California” to be reunited with Meghan and their young son, Archie.