People Mag confirms: The Sussexes were not invited to this year’s Trooping the Colour

The photos in this post are from 2018 and 2019, the only two times the Duchess of Sussex was invited to participate in the whole Trooping the Colour rigmarole. Trooping is the monarch’s annual birthday parade, only it’s not scheduled for a king or queen’s actual birthday. Instead, a date is chosen – usually a Saturday in early or mid-June – and in the olden days, QEII expected her whole family to turn up for the parade and the balcony wave. She included all of her kids and grandkids, random cousins and second-cousins and all of the married-in spouses. All of that changed when Prince Harry married Meghan.

Even before the Sussexit, there were conversations among Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace courtiers about what to do to minimize Meghan, to show the world that a Black woman was not allowed full access to all of the Windsors’ white spaces. The Sussexit actually made it easier for for the courtiers to declare that Meghan would never again be “allowed” on the balcony. Post-Sussexit, the balcony issue has only come up one time – in 2022, when QEII invited the Sussexes to her Platinum Jubbly. The Windsors were so focused on snubbing the Sussexes and ensuring that they wouldn’t be allowed on the balcony, that year’s Trooping balcony seemed notably sad and bare.

It’s only gotten worse from there – last year’s Trooping was a mess, and don’t forget that Prince William stole his dad’s Trooping thunder by giving a big interview that same weekend. This year’s Trooping balcony will be even emptier than last year’s, as it’s looking like the Princess of Wales and her children probably won’t be around. So, how best to deflect from the six-months-long Where Is Kate conversation? I know, leak to People Magazine that the Sussexes are NOT invited to Trooping!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be missing from Trooping the Colour later this month.

PEOPLE confirms the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been invited to this year’s annual celebration of the British monarch’s birthday in London, scheduled for June 15. They were also not invited to the event last year, which marked the first time Trooping the Colour took place during the reign of King Charles, Harry’s father.

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, have been living in California since stepping back as working members of the royal family in 2020.

[From People]

This sounds obvious enough – of course the Sussexes were not invited and of course they wouldn’t even go if they were invited. They’re not popping over to England for every dumb event, especially when Harry’s dogsh-t father is doing the most to smear him over everything. Here’s my question though – who actually gave this to People? Did the palace courtiers release this as a “snub” to the Sussexes (and a deflection from Kate’s absence), or is this another version of Harry’s “my father is too busy to see me” statement? Like, is Charles going to throw another tantrum, this one about the Sussexes confirming that they weren’t invited to Trooping?

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Instar and Cover Images.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

67 Responses to “People Mag confirms: The Sussexes were not invited to this year’s Trooping the Colour”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Eurydice says:

    That’s a very interesting question. I can see how this could have come from Harry – as in, “stop asking me about Trooping, we haven’t been invited.” And I can see how it could have come from BP – as in “let’s copy Harry before he embarrasses us again.”

    • Barbara says:

      I think if it had come from Harry it would have been more official, as in “A representative for Prince Harry said..” Since who said it was left vague, it was some rando palace source.

      • Amy Bee says:

        Yeah I think this came from someone in the Palace.

      • Debbie says:

        I think the story is coming from one of the palaces too. First, having left England so many years ago, why would the Sussexes be thinking about attending some made-up dress-up event they have over there? No, I think that this is definitely to deflect from the “Where’s Kate?” stories. The fact that it’s similar to their “snub” stories is just gravy on a salty cracker for them. Along the same vein, I hear that the queen and Philip aren’t attending either. Anyway, didn’t they come out and admit that in Kate’s absence they would be targeting Sussex stories?

      • goofpuff says:

        I agree. Harry doesn’t work through “sources”. He has his spokesperson say it officially. If it doesn’t come from the spokesperson, its all garbage and from the palaces.

      • Christine says:

        Agreed. If this was Harry and Meghan, there would be a representative named. This is People Magazine, playing all sides, of everything, as if anyone with a brain believes them.

        See also, the way People Magazine can’t figure out how to spell things that don’t look British.

        “Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be missing from Trooping the Colour later this month.”

        Colour? KP or BP.

    • AlpineWitch says:

      In my opinion it was a Palace source reminding everyone in the USA Harry and Meg aren’t welcome in the UK.

      It seems a bit silly to point out this to a British audience because nobody would expect them to show up at Trooping the Colour anyway.

      • Eurydice says:

        It seems also silly to point this out to an American audience. They might not know the details but most everyone knows that H&M aren’t welcome back in the UK.

      • Tina says:

        Agreed we know the RF is weirdly obsessed with America and I think this is their way of reminding everyone about the Trooping is coming up and H&M are being snubbed. People Mag target audience is pretty pro royal I think. I really don’t get why.

      • Gabby says:

        Yes, what better way to make the palace look good in the week leading up to the D-Day Anniversary then to put out this schoolyard bully nonsense. It would have been more honest to end the statement with a big NYAH.

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        AlpineWitch, this is another example of the brf using the American media to try and smear H&M. The problem they have is that they don’t understand AT ALL that 99% of the Americans just don’t care. They don’t know anything about Trooping the Color and have no reason to learn–assuming they would want to.

        So, the brf gets out the message that they didn’t invite H&M and really push the whole ‘they won’t be on the balcony’ because they seem to think Americans care.

  2. Tessa says:

    Bunch of petty people. Charles showing he’s a bad father and grandfather

  3. Nubia says:

    I wish we got to see what Meghan wore for the platinum jubilee balcony,there was only a faint picture of her with some kids,her hat looked very interesting. Anyways I love watching Karma happening in real time.

  4. Maxine Branch says:

    Pathetic attempt to marginalize a couple who would not come even if invited. Smells of desperation to hide the conversation re their missing princess. No low is too low for those in that institution. The Sussexes are gone and will not honor those folks with their presence. The ship has sailed far away.

  5. BeyondTheFringe says:

    Breaking news: water is wet, sky is blue.

    Of course they were not invited. Fresh off their triumphant Nigerian tour, C&W would sooner chew glass than share a single frame with the charismatic couple.

    I agree it is intriguing as to who confirmed this, though I’m leaning toward the palace because the Sussexes *usually* say things with their whole chests.

  6. Lady Digby says:

    This is a very poor look for the King as a father, FIL and grandfather to exclude them. He is also the head of the CE church. If he is NOT a racist why exclude them? A pensioner told me recently she thought Charles was very wrong not to make time to see his own son last month especially as he has cancer and he needed to reconcile while there was still time!

    • Nubia says:

      Charles is a walking contradiction and more people need to call him out. He is the King he is suppose to bring people together,he is the Head of CoE he is suppose to promote faith and unity, he is the Head of State(correct me if I am wrong)of many Commonwealth countries with black and brown populations yet he is absolutely deplorable to the first mixed raced members of his family. He is a Farce!

      • Julianna2 says:

        100% this Nubia and Lady Digby!!! The British media won’t touch this topic because they have to keep propping and building up the egos of the bottomless pit of neediness that are Charles and William. The ‘King’ is doing the exact opposite of all that the King is supposed to be and when William becomes King, I’m sure it will be ‘hold my beer’ let’s see how much more damage I can do to top Dad!

    • Eurydice says:

      Oh, where to start with Charles’ “poor looks” – The whole Diana/Camilla thing, his behavior after Diana was killed, behind the scenes political lobbying, outright racists remarks, accepting bags of cash, hanging with horrible pedophiles. Then, lack of support for H&M, kicking them out of Frogmore. In comparison, not inviting H&M to Trooping is kindness itself.

  7. Pinkosaurus says:

    I wonder with the hiring of the British press rep if the Sussexes have decided to be more assertive in pushing out accurate information. Leaving Salt Island didn’t decrease tabloid interest at all after more than four years so it looks like they may be taking a different approach. They are still not going to respond to the trash tabloids they are suing/have sued but do openly communicate with People.

    • AlpineWitch says:

      Problem is, ‘Salt Island’ only exist for the aristo/boomer crowd, the one the rags are pandering to. The rest of the population has different issues to care about, we’ve a general election in 4 weeks and a lot of problems that won’t certainly be solved by the next government anyway.

      However, the interest in what H&M do hasn’t waned because white triple-lock persioners, DM’s readers and boomers have nothing else to do with their own time but being racist to H&M.

      Nobody cares about H&M enough to wonder if they’re included in Trooping the Colour, which makes me think this is something that was directly communicated to the American audiences through People.

      • kirk says:

        As if American audiences are too stupid to figure out Sussexes will not be attending the glorious frivolities attendant with
        The Trooping Of The Colours!!!

        What idiot courtier thought American audiences would care about the Sussexes non-invite to Chuck’s Pretend Birthdate?

      • rosa mwemaid says:

        I think it is one of those events, you’ve seen it once, why would you want to see it again. Hardly something to get excited about.

  8. TELLING says:

    I recall M’ dress was far more stunning than K’s while they stood on that balcony. Despite the rumored efforts to sideline her, M effortlessly exuded elegance, standing next to H looking like a million bucks.

    • JR McGraw says:

      Right? She made the rest of them look as frumpy, dowdy and fake as they are

  9. This is not the flex that Chuckles thinks it is this just endears Harry and Meg more to the rest of the world by showing what an absolute horrible father, king, grandfather and human scum that Chuckles is and always will be.

  10. s808 says:

    I’m wondering who confirmed as well but honestly, I’m glad it’s out there. It cuts that “will they won’t they” bs off at the knees.

    • JudyB says:

      No, now the “will they or won’t they” bs is focused on will Kate wave or won’t she! And will the kids be there or won’t they? And who really cares?? I like to visit London and watch the various ceremonies, but I can’t imagine anyone waking up every day and caring who is on a stupid balcony.

  11. Beverley says:

    Stop already! This is lame! Everyone knows Chuckles has no love for the Sussexes. Meghan and her children are “too Black” to be seen as having any royal prestige. And Harry must be punished and scorned for this. It’s so predictable and so obvious to the rest of the world that the pale, stale leftovers are racist and toxic. Wash, rinse, repeat.

  12. Wagiman says:

    Those looks in the carriage tho!

    Sorry H and M, you can’t stand on a balcony and /or walk to church so there! You must be so jealous because you don’t get to do those things! (signed, every royal reporter, as that’s all we’ve got ammo wise).

    • Debbie says:

      I must admit I’ve never seen the third photo in the carriage before. The one where Meghan looks at Kate as if to say, “I know what you’re up to. I had to deal with Samantha Markle-Grant-Markle at a very young age.” I really like it.

  13. Amy Bee says:

    Meghan and Harry weren’t going to go even if they were invited. This is a non-story but it just goes to show that even People are desperate for stories about Meghan and Harry.

    • Becks1 says:

      Yeah, they weren’t going anyway. It’s a little cold IMO that charles didn’t even give them a fake invitation (you know, a “you’re not actually invited but for formality’s sake” kind of invitation) but this is Charles and his pettiness knows no bounds.

      But either way, they wouldn’t be going. Harry has made it very clear that he has moved beyond that part of his life.

      And the Sussex children will never be on that balcony.

      • Amy Bee says:

        Yeah, remember when Jane Goodall said that when she went to visit Archie after he was born, she told Harry that he (Archie) would have to start practicing to wave and Harry said that Archie was never going to do that. I think that alone tells us that Harry was never into the waving and the balcony stuff.

  14. TN Democrat says:

    How is the scaled down monarchy working out, eh? How many rota stories have been published about the importance/role of cousins “stepping up” lately? How has punishing Harry worked out for them?

  15. sevenblue says:

    It might also just People asking their sources in the palace if H&M are invited and got the answer, so they wrote an article.

  16. Moniquep says:

    You know what I wish? Harry and Meghan in response to the ” look we are snubbing the Sussexes again ” narrative, just release a picture of the family frolicking in their backyard/ pool. Enjoying life in their marvelous Montecito mansion, with the seventy – eleven bathrooms.
    That would learn those fools that H&M could give flying figs about their snubbs.

  17. Amy Bee says:

    It think if it was Harry and Meghan’s team that confirmed this People would have said so. These royal reporters are always eager to show that they talk to Harry and Meghan’s spokespeople. So I think it was someone at the Palace but perhaps it didn’t come from the comms team.

  18. MsIam says:

    Yeah, yeah, yeah we know. How long are we supposed to care that the relatives who live out of the country were not invited to the party? Are we supposed to believe that Harry and Meghan are sobbing and wailing about not getting to go on a carriage ride or not standing on the balcony? I guess this is a “scoop” for People, though. And so much for Grandpa Charles being “desperate” to see his grandchildren. That kind of makes me think it WAS the Sussexes who told this to People, lol.

  19. Jais says:

    Was there anyone out there who actually believed Charles invited Harry and Meghan to trooping let alone to stand on there balcony? But okay, thanks for confirming the obvious.

  20. PinkOrchid says:

    What ever happened to “the Royals must be seen to be believed”? Queen Elizabeth proclaimed this was the key to maintaining the monarchy. In her view, the more of them seen, the better. Give people the ogling opportunity they pay for. Charles doesn’t seem to agree. A gander at the geriatric King and Queen—more than enough. Princes and princesses be damned.

  21. Harla A Brazen Hussy says:

    I get why Kate won’t attend but why aren’t George, Charlotte and Louis attending? They are certainly old enough to be there even if their mother is not. This whole lockdown of the kids is much more perplexing than the absence of Kate, are they worried that one of the kids will go off script and tell what’s really going on?

    • Interested Gawker says:

      There are various points during a year when the royal children are displayed to the public and Trooping is one of them. If the children, who have been on the balcony since infancy, are not at Trooping this year that will be abnormal and cause to redouble the effort to get clear answers about what’s going on with the Waleses.

    • JudyB says:

      I hope I live long enough to read the books that the Wales kids write about their childhood and what really went on. (Maybe Louis will be first??) I said the same thing about the Duggar family from 19 Kids and Counting, and I have been rewarded in the past couple of years as the older girls write their books. I see there is now a similar program about a huge family in the UK though I don’t know much about it.

      Ditto for Brad Pitts’ kids and the rest of the children that have been abused by famous parents.

      Actually, maybe Kate will write the first book????

  22. SussexWatcher says:

    More questions are being raised again about the disappeared princess and why she might never return to public duty? Quick, throw the spare and his wife under the bus again! New day, same palace playbook.

    • paintybox says:

      I also think Charles and Camilla keep their wounds feeling fresh. They could have gotten over Harry’s book and the shows by now but nope, they are keeping this feud alive. They probably would’ve liked to live in medieval times when the king could order beheadings. But they have to settle for releasing petty punishment after petty punishment into the press. Their desire for revenge is clearly not satiated.

  23. Joyful Liluri says:

    Harry doesn’t say things through the press. He makes a statement via Archwell, their spokesperson or their Sussex site.

  24. Izzy says:

    The Trooping week would be a great time for the Sussexes to do another official visit someplace they WERE invited. Just sayin’…

  25. Lau says:

    Maybe this year William will give a big interview to explain what he did as a usher in the Grosvenor wedding to steal Charles’ trooping thunder.

  26. Interested Gawker says:

    This feels like BP phoning it in, going through the motions. After the IG Anniversary and the Spencers going all in for supporting Harry while crowds of well wishers thronged outside to greet him this insistence they are snubbing the Sussexes can’t feel very satisfying for them.

  27. Is that so? says:

    Breaking News: General Francisco Franco is still dead.

  28. Thelma says:

    The Royal Family needs Prince Harry and Meghan more than H and M need them! There will be no star glamour on the Trooping balcony that’s for sure. I honestly don’t think H and M care if they’re invited or not, because they wouldn’t attend anyway.

    • SussexWatcher says:

      I can’t wait to see how pathetic and hilarious it’s going to be. My prediction: Chuckles and his mistress queen and Willy in the center balcony with some tumbleweeds rolling by. The other octogenarians on one side balcony and then all the hangers-on (Chuckles’s siblings and their children) on the other side balcony. It’s going to be awful for Chuckles and the rota rats who will have to report on it. And I can’t wait.

  29. Just Jade says:

    These people need to let it go because nobody is buying what they have been trying to sell for four years now. “Those at the corridors need you more than you will ever need them” Princess Meghan

  30. Gabby says:

    Isn’t polo season starting back up? Boy would I love for Harry to be seen playing a polo match in the Santa Barbara sunshine on that exact day.

  31. QuiteContrary says:

    Imagine if the whole Camilla nightmare had never happened and if Charles had been a better man … imagine an older Diana on the balcony, still looking amazing because she aged gracefully into her 60s, surrounded by her grandchildren, including the Sussex kids.

    Now the Brits will have to make do with Camilla and Charles, two dusty farts, standing with Huevo and a nervous George. (If Charlotte and Louis are there, that’s going to be a story, so Chaz may not want them there.)

  32. Heather says:

    Ugh, that last photo with the ginormous child molester right in front. Great look for y’all 😳

    Seriously, does being a billionaire make you incredibly childish? Americans do not care about Charles or the rest of the racists. We see you and we quit you.

  33. ABritGuest says:

    This definitely came from the palace. They were probably giving an update on upcoming events & no doubt the palace wanted to get their side in first after Harry outmanoeuvred them during his Invictus anniversary trip

    The royalists weren’t impressed with the bare working royals only balcony last year so my prediction is all the Windsors will make an appearance on the balcony at one point on trooping.

  34. Mel says:

    So every time they have something, that nobody asked to be invited to, they’re going to break out the guest list to prove that the person who doesn’t care wasn’t invited? How pathetic.

  35. Moniquep says:

    Oh, I have one more wish and a prayer, that the skies will open up with another downpour like willy’s garden party from dawn to dusk. In fact, all darn week!
    I am totally disgusted with these dumb ass articles day in and day out.
    It’s like there’s a commandment, “Thou shalt write numerous unfounded articles daily attacking the Sussexes “

  36. Lindsay says:

    I continue to struggle with the support that these despicable white colonizing monarchists receive.
    I got banned from a reddit sub for supporting Harry and Meghan.
    It hurts my soul and sensitivities to know how this rejection impacts Harry 😞

  37. Rnot says:

    It’s Dad’s “work” birthday party at the family business. Harry and Meghan don’t work at the family business anymore. It’s not that complicated. So far, we haven’t seen anything about the “family” birthday party and how the Sussexes weren’t invited and/or snubbed the olive branch invitation. I assume those stories are already locked and loaded.

  38. Karmaflower says:

    Yawn. Thinking of Meghan’s first Trooping. “It’s very colorful.” LMAO still funny. They live in Montecito, with little ones, in the summer, and are living a beautiful life. I’m thinking they could not care less about Wm in fake military garb on a horse while everyone stands in hot gowns and suits, plus other fake military garb, waving from the balcony at BP. WHO CARES? If I had to choose I’d go casual in Montecito w fresh lemons in my water, hanging in a private backyard, playing w kids.

    • AC says:

      And the derangers keep telling themselves that K will be queen and M will never be. In denial that there’s a big possibility they are soft launching K will prob never be going back to public life. And then what.. While HM are enjoying their life in sunny and drama-free CA thinking to themselves glad they got the F out of that toxic country.