It has emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were initially asked to an event before Queen Elizabeth’s funeral – but their invitations were later ‘rescinded’

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were ‘not allowed’ to be with the rest of the royal family the night before the late Queen’s funeral, it’s been claimed.

Instead of spending the poignant night with Charles and Camilla and other members of the family, the pair were reportedly snubbed at an upmarket reception for world leaders. They believed they would be attending the evening and spending the night with their siblings and father.

But they had their invitations withdrawn after the Palace made it clear the event was for ‘working royals’, which meant they did not meet the specified criteria, according to reports.

Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor for The Sunday Times, spoke to those who know Prince Harry, and revealed details of his frosty relationship with others in the family. She wrote: “The Sussexes also understood they would be at Buckingham Palace on the eve of the funeral alongside the rest of the royal family, when Charles and Camilla hosted a reception for foreign heads of state. They were initially asked to the event but their invitations were later ‘rescinded’, with the Palace clarifying the event was for ‘working members of the royal family’ only.”

The pair were also left out of “a family briefing” before the service was held, and were not given any “briefing notes” until late in the evening, which close friends said “wounded” Harry. it comes as Harry approaches his 40th birthday and also follows his controversial book ‘Spare’ which split the Royal family.

Further evidence of the faultlines happened in June, when both Harry and Meghan did not attend the Duke of Westminster’s wedding at Chester Cathedral. The Duke was said to be close to the royal siblings, and he is even godfather to Princes George and Archie. But Harry and Meghan did not attend to avoid any “awkwardness” with William, who had usher duties at the event.

After Harry and Meghan quit the Royal Family, a YouGov poll showed the Princess of Wales was the most popular royal, followed by Prince William. But Harry and Meghan didn’t have the same popularity, and found themselves only just ahead of Prince Andrew.

Prince Harry has been at odds with the family since quitting royal life but the Mirror reported one incident left the Duke “absolutely furious and in tears”, according to an expert. In January last year, Harry released his tell-all memoir, Spare. It proved to be the last straw for his brother Prince William and father, King Charles.

A short time later, Harry and wife Meghan were instructed to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their residence in the UK. The couple, who moved to California in June 2020, had been given the property as a wedding gift from the late Queen. A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed in March 2023 that they “have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage”.

Then royal expert and author Tom Quinn revealed: “Harry was absolutely furious and in tears about being evicted from Frogmore – he felt his father had no right to do it and that it was purely vindictive.”