As the United Kingdom prepares for this year’s Trooping the Colour celebration on Saturday, June 14, one detail is hard to ignore: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are once again expected to be absent from the event—continuing a trend that many royal watchers see as deeply symbolic.
What is Trooping the Colour?
Held each June, Trooping the Colour is a grand military parade marking the official birthday of the British monarch. With over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, the ceremony is a display of tradition and royal pageantry. Perhaps the most iconic moment is when the royal family gathers on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force flypast.
But not everyone gets to stand on that balcony—and in recent years, the royal guest list has become a clear reflection of King Charles III’s evolving vision for the monarchy.
A Notable Absence: Harry and Meghan Missing Again
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now living in California and no longer working royals, have not appeared at Trooping the Colour since 2022, when they briefly returned for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Even then, they were not included in the balcony appearance, a decision that raised eyebrows at the time.
The couple’s absence from Trooping the Colour 2023 marked a turning point. According to royal commentator Richard Eden, this was more than just a scheduling conflict. “It’s very significant,” Eden remarked in an episode of Palace Confidential, pointing out that when Harry and Meghan stepped back in 2020, royal officials had emphasized they would still be welcome at key ceremonial occasions.
Yet now, for a third consecutive year, they appear to be excluded entirely.
Is This the New Normal?
While there has been no official confirmation of the full guest list for the 2025 balcony appearance, most signs suggest it will be restricted to working royals only. This would once again leave the Duke and Duchess of Sussex off the invite list, reinforcing the clear boundary between the current monarchy and those who have stepped away.
Observers say this fits within King Charles’ aim to slim down the monarchy, focusing on active working royals and reducing the number of peripheral figures involved in official events.
What This Means for the Sussexes
Despite their physical distance from the royal institution, Harry and Meghan remain in the public eye through their media ventures, including the Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan” and various public appearances in the U.S.
But within the context of British royal tradition, their absence at events like Trooping the Colour appears to signal their formal detachment from royal life. It’s not just about missing a parade—it’s about what these omissions communicate.
With Prince Harry’s military background and long-standing connection to ceremonial service, being left out of such a symbolic event is especially poignant.
The Future of Royal Engagements
As the monarchy moves further into King Charles’ reign, traditions are evolving—and so is the royal family’s approach to public representation. While no final decisions have been publicly confirmed by Buckingham Palace, one thing is becoming clear:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer considered part of the official royal circle when it comes to state occasions.
Whether this will change in the future remains to be seen, but for now, their absence continues to speak volumes.