The British Royal Family is preparing for one of its most symbolic trips in recent memory — a high-profile journey across the Atlantic to take part in America’s historic 250th birthday celebrations next year. But while the House of Windsor prepares to step onto the world stage, one California couple will be nowhere near the spotlight: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to be completely excluded.
Multiple sources speaking to Page Six confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, now residents of Montecito, will not receive invitations to any of the major commemorations planned in the United States. Instead, the focus will fall squarely on the senior royals who remain working members of the family.
Prince William and Princess Kate are expected to take center stage at the July celebrations marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence — the very document that severed America from the British Crown. Their presence is already being described as a “powerful diplomatic moment” for both nations, symbolizing historical reconciliation and modern partnership.
Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been invited to Washington, D.C., for a State Visit in April at the request of President Donald Trump, though the King’s attendance depends on his ongoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer. At 77, Charles continues to receive weekly medical care, but insiders say he remains “determined” to travel if physically able.
One source summed up the enthusiasm from both governments: “We’re hoping all the senior royals will come over. This is going to be a huge year for both the US and the UK.”
And yet, conspicuously absent from every plan, every conversation, and every guest list: Harry and Meghan.
THE SUSSEXES LEFT OUT — DELIBERATELY
According to palace insiders, the situation is simple.
“Harry and Meghan are not working royals. Of course they will not be invited,” one official source explained. “If an invitation were ever to be extended, it would have to come directly from the Royal Family — and that is not happening.”
Despite stepping away from royal duties, the Sussexes continue to use their titles publicly. Critics recently mocked Meghan for a Harper’s Bazaar interview in which a house manager announced her as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” to a single journalist in an otherwise empty home — a moment viewed by royal watchers as unintentionally revealing about the couple’s desire to maintain royal gravitas.
The tension between the Sussexes and the palace remains undeniable. Prince Harry’s relationship with his older brother has deteriorated so severely that the two have not spoken in more than two years. Even Harry’s recent attempts to reconcile — including telling his father that he “would love” to repair the relationship — have not repaired the deep mistrust created by the couple’s high-profile criticism of the monarchy.
The Netflix docuseries, the Oprah interview, the reality-style program detailing their grievances, and Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare all inflicted lasting damage. For palace officials, the issue is not personal bitterness — it’s security and discretion.
“They cannot trust them enough to bring them back into the fold,” a royal insider said bluntly.
CHARLES, TRUMP, AND A NEW DIPLOMATIC SHOWCASE
While Harry and Meghan remain firmly on the sidelines, King Charles has strengthened his relationship with the White House. President Trump and First Lady Melania were granted an unprecedented second State Visit last year — a gesture highlighting the unusually warm ties between the two households.
At a previous banquet, Trump was seated next to Kate Middleton, whom he found so striking that he reportedly referred to her as “the Queen.” Her poise, diplomatic ease, and ability to charm international leaders stand in stark contrast to the public battles that have followed the Sussexes.
King Charles, too, has publicly praised Trump, notably commending the President’s “personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts” — a statement that insiders say reflects not only diplomatic politeness but a strategic strengthening of Anglo-American ties.
The King has made it clear that the United States is a central partner for the United Kingdom. “Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” he said at a previous State Banquet, emphasizing the deep cultural, military, and historical bonds between the two nations.
Trump — known for his bluntness — has made no secret of his disdain for Harry and Meghan. When asked previously about deporting Harry over his admitted drug use, Trump dismissed the idea with a characteristically sharp remark: “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
For Harry and Meghan, who once imagined themselves as global humanitarian figures and informal ambassadors between the UK and the US, the message could not be clearer: the doors they expected to walk through have been firmly closed.
The upcoming 250th anniversary is expected to be one of the most watched diplomatic events of the year. Senior royals will attend major ceremonies, meet US leaders, and appear at high-stakes receptions celebrating the shared history between the two countries.
But for Harry and Meghan — who live just hours from the West Coast festivities — the celebration will proceed without them. No roles, no invitations, no acknowledgment. Their absence will be as symbolic as the royals’ presence.
Buckingham Palace, for now, remains silent, saying only that they never comment on overseas travel until schedules are finalized. The message, however, needs no confirmation: the Royal Family will represent Britain abroad — and the Sussexes will not.
