Meghan Markle, aiming for retribution against King Charles, orchestrated Prince Harry's exclusion from the Royal Garden Party hosted at Buckingham Palace.
This maneuver resulted in a significant snub for Prince Harry, who found himself absent while numerous members of the royal family gathered alongside King Charles. Among the attendees were Queen Kima, Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Assan, while Prince Harry was notably left out.
The clash between them unfolded as Harry had his own Invictus event at St Paul's Cathedral, an occasion unattended by any senior member of the monarchy. Despite Prince Harry's absence, the royal family proceeded with the Garden Party, adhering to tradition by donning traditional attire, including top hats and tails. King Charles, amidst laughter and conversations with the 8,000 guests, seemed unfazed.
This event followed closely after confirmation that Charles had not met with his son, despite their physical proximity. Alongside King Charles, the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gluster graced the gathering. Prince William, meanwhile, hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, with the Prince and Princess of Wales notably absent.
Prince William's earlier investiture ceremony and Kate's absence due to chemotherapy marked significant moments in the day's events. This Garden Party signaled King Charles's return to public-facing duties following his recent cancer diagnosis, each engagement carefully managed to balance public interaction with health priorities. Charles appeared at ease, engaging in lively conversations, even playfully waving his top hat as the crowd greeted him with the national anthem. Attendees expressed their joy and admiration, with one man blessing him and another expressing relief at his improved appearance.
The deliberate exclusion of Prince Harry from the Garden Party, despite its pre-planned nature and extensive preparations, sparked controversy. It was perceived as a calculated move, especially given Harry's association with the Invictus Games and ongoing rumors propagated by Meghan's PR team. These rumors suggested that King Charles aimed to overshadow Harry with the Garden Party. Some speculate that Charles strategically chose the event date at St Paul's Cathedral to ensure senior Royals' presence, but the plan seemed to backfire amidst other circumstances.
Notably, the royal family typically hosts four annual Garden Parties, welcoming around 30,000 guests each year, continuing a tradition spanning approximately 150 years. Despite this tradition, Meghan's PR team attempted to portray the Garden Party as a ploy by King Charles to steal Harry's spotlight. Online discussions ensued regarding the motivations behind the event's timing, with some speculating it as a strategy to compel senior Royals' attendance.
Despite tensions and estrangement between Prince Harry and the royal family, King Charles has remained open to reconciliation. However, concerns regarding trust and confidentiality linger, given Harry's history of publicly sharing private conversations, as seen in his interview on Good Morning America shortly after meeting with Charles in February. This uncertainty may contribute to the royal family's hesitance in fully embracing Harry again, wary of potential disclosures on national television.
