Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were Left Off the Trooping the Colour Guest List

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence from the 2025 Trooping the Colour ceremony was as noticeable as a royal without a crown. While the Prince and Princess of Wales paraded with their three children in matching outfits, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were conspicuously missing. While the royally estranged couple has maintained a distance, the palace has opted for a firm no-invite policy, turning the perennial will-they-will-they-not question into a definitive ‘will-not’, turning a royal cold shoulder that is hard to ignore.

When it comes to royal family drama, the guest list for Trooping the Colour is the ultimate tell-all. And for another year, the glaring absence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has tongues wagging louder than the marching bands.

Why were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry royally snubbed at Trooping the Colour 2025??

The roots of this exclusion trace back to the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to California in 2020. Initially, palace officials had hoped that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would still be welcomed to key events like Trooping the Colour. However, since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, when they were relegated to a separate viewing area rather than the main balcony, their presence at royal ceremonies has diminished sharply, or rather, crafted to become so.

Behind the scenes, the divide is widening. King Charles reportedly keeps his distance over trust issues, while Prince William is said to have closed the door on any attempts at reconciliation. Royal insiders reveal that no palace staff are advocating for mending fences, and the family has lost confidence in the Prince and the Duchess’ discretion in private matters. This lack of trust is a critical barrier, making any rapprochement increasingly unlikely despite the Prince’s public expressions of forgiveness and desire to reconcile.

What do you think the couple’s third absence from Trooping the Colour signifies? Let us know in the comments below!