Queen Elizabeth II’s death was a difficult moment for the entire Royal Family, but experts say it may have been marred by the ongoing feud between the Sussexes and the Firm. Neither Meghan Markle nor Princess Kate were present at Balmoral as the Queen died and theories as to why circulated rapidly.
Now it has emerged Meghan was asked to stay away, while Kate opted to remain in Windsor with her children as they started school.
Charles is said to have “dreaded” telling his youngest son that Meghan was not welcome at Balmoral, but Kate’s “lucky” choice to stay with her children helped make the job easier.
Royal biographer Robert Hartman wrote: “We can easily image the dread with which the [then] Prince of Wales approached that call [to Harry].”
A source said: “Charles told Harry that it wasn’t right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time.”
And Harry expressed his anger in his book ‘Spare’ writing: “I wasn’t having it. Don’t ever speak about my wife that way.” He dubbed Charles’s decision “nonsensical and disrespectful”.
However, when Harry was told Kate would not be there and Charles simply didn’t want too many people visiting, he reportedly told his father “that was all you needed to say”.
And Prince William didn’t want to get involved, with no direct contact between him and Harry as the Duke of Sussex arranged his travel plans, despite suggestions Harry had been texting his older brother.
Mr Hardman said William “did not regard” the family emergency as “the appropriate moment” to have an “intensely difficult conversation”.
The Sussexes had been separated from the Royal Family for more than two years, living in the US when the Queen died although they were over in Britain as the Queen’s health deteriorated.
So was King Charles right to stop Meghan Markle travelling up to Balmoral as it became clear the Queen was dying? Vote in our poll and have your say in the comments.
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