Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left devastated after King Charles issued a decree through the Ministry of Defense, banning them from participating in the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Scheduled for June 15th, 2024, the event is set to feature King Charles amidst his ongoing cancer treatment, as confirmed by a source close to the royal family. Royal expert Cameron Walker, formerly known for his Twitter updates, announced that the Ministry of Defense had also confirmed the King's participation in the ceremony.
Despite undergoing cancer treatment, it remains uncertain whether His Majesty will take part, as Buckingham Palace has not officially confirmed his attendance. Curiously, the Army website has refrained from altering the event's details.
Trooping the Colour, a historic ceremony dating back to the reign of King Charles II, involves a procession along the Mall, with 250 soldiers from the Foot Guards lining the route. Notably, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been omitted from the guest list by King Charles, indicating that Harry won't be permitted to wear military attire or join fellow soldiers in parades for two consecutive years. This exclusion marks the second consecutive year the couple has been sidelined from the event, following the Queen's passing.
Returning to the United Kingdom in June 2022 for Trooping the Colour, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were notably absent from the Buckingham Palace balcony during the flypast, an honor reserved for working members of the royal family and their children. Now, with King Charles's future plans for the monarchy underway, discussions about their potential reinstatement to official roles have arisen, leaving the couple feeling overlooked and snubbed by the King.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense faced criticism for announcing Princess Catherine's return to royal duties without consulting Kensington Palace. Set to make her first appearance since undergoing abdominal surgery, Princess Catherine's engagement at the parade on June 8th has been confirmed by the Army's official website.
However, Kensington Palace has yet to confirm her attendance, emphasizing that it's the Palace's prerogative, not government departments, to announce royal engagements. The announcement caused confusion amidst media speculation surrounding the state of Princess Catherine's health, given her absence from public view since January. Reports suggest that the Army's decision to publicize the event was based on the expectation that Princess Catherine, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would inspect the troops during the annual ceremony.
