MEGHAN Markle won’t make the journey to Britain with Harry next month for two reasons, says royal expert.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is set to make the transatlantic trip to the UK in a few days time for the Invictus Games Foundation’s 10th Anniversary.
Wife Meghan, 42, will not be by his side – opting to stay in the couple’s £12million Montecito mansion in sunny California with their kids Archie and Lilibet – it is claimed.
The Duchess fears her presence and involvement in the major royal rift will overshadow the message of the Invictus Games, says royal author Richard Fitzwilliams.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Richard said her absence isn’t shocking because it’s “obvious” the royal family would greet her with a hostile reception.
He said: “I never thought that Meghan would come over because of the hostility towards her, but I mean no one has to emphasize that it’s hostile.
“And also, of course, you’d get a press that was far from flattering, but that is linked to the Sussexes behaviour over the last four years.
“I mean, one has to be frank about it.
“It may be definite that she isn’t coming, but it’s most unlikely, and always the most unlikely she was going to come.
“And anyway, her attendance at the reception would overshadow the message of the service, and you wouldn’t want that, as far as Harry is concerned.”
It comes despite Meghan previously attending Invictus Games with Harry in Toronto, Sydney, The Hague and Dusseldorf.
She has not stepped-foot in the UK since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
Last year, Meg turned down an invite to King Charles’ Coronation because it clashed with Archie’s fourth birthday.
Harry will attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, May 8, the foundation confirmed.
The event runs from 5pm until 6.30pm in a clash with the first Buckingham Palace garden, held between 3pm and 6pm.
With King Charles announcing he is fit and well enough to return to public-facing duties, the lavish outdoor bash could be on the cards.
Prince William, 41, could also appear at the first of two palace garden parties.
There has been speculation on the possibility of a reunion between Harry, the King, and Prince William.
The Sussexes aren’t trusted by the royal family
Richard Fitzwilliams
Richard added: “Undoubtedly I would have thought he would want to see his father.
“We know he came over as soon as he heard that King Charles was fighting cancer.
“One must hope everyone’s interested in the rift being resolved so hopefully this might happen.
“But it will happen because of private contact, contact that we wouldn’t know existed.
“I mean, that has a far, far better chance, anyway. But the problem essentially, is one of trust.
“The Sussexes aren’t trusted by the royal family. That Oprah interview, which did so much harm went, actually went out at the time when the Duke of Edinburgh was ill in hospital.
“This is something the royal family wouldn’t have forgotten either.
“But looking to the future, of course I must hope that the royal rift is solved in some way. The king has always kept the door open to Harry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he would invariably get a warm reception.”
After Harry’s most likely short trip to Britain, he and Meghan will head to Nigeria.
The couple will take part in “cultural activities” after they were invited by the west African country’s chief of defence staff.
An insider said Meghan had “shown no interest” in coming back to the UK.
However Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, will join him afterwards as they head to Africa.
The couple will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, according to Nigerian media.
It will be Meghan and Harry’s first trip to Nigeria as a couple.
