Prince Harry 'regrets' missing Trooping the Colour, while Meghan remains 'indifferent'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have differing feelings about missing the 2024 Trooping the Colour, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. 

The annual military parade, held to celebrate the reigning monarch's birthday, marked King Charles III's birthday for the second consecutive year. 

While Prince William and Princess Kate attended the ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were notably absent. Fitzwilliams suggested that Prince Harry might regret not attending. "I think when it comes to military matters, Harry has always taken an interest," Fitzwilliams told The Sun. "He does unquestionably view the way the break has occurred with the Royal Family. Which, as I say in my opinion, is the fault of the Sussexes."

Fitzwilliams emphasised the significance of the military in Prince Harry's life, noting his two tours of duty in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008 and 2012 to 2013. "I would have thought it only natural that he would have had a feeling of some regret [not being at Trooping the Colour]," Fitzwilliams added.

In contrast, Fitzwilliams believes Meghan is indifferent to the ceremony. "Meghan would be indifferent to a ceremony like Trooping the Colour, quite frankly," he said. He also mentioned that he has "no idea whether she would or wouldn’t actually watch it," and that he doesn't "think it would mean a great deal to her."

Fitzwilliams further noted, "If it had done, she would have managed to carve a position within the Royal Family where she could have been of use." Although Harry and Meghan weren't invited to Saturday's Trooping the Colour in London, the event was attended by Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis.

Last year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also absent from the guest list, as it was the first Trooping the Colour of King Charles' reign. It remains unclear if the couple would have attended this year's event had they been invited.