When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the moment marked the end of a historic reign and ushered in a wave of global mourning. As members of the British royal family rushed to be by her side, questions arose regarding why Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, did not accompany Prince Harry to the Queen’s deathbed, especially since the couple was already in the United Kingdom at the time.
Contrary to widespread speculation, the decision for Meghan not to join her husband appears to have stemmed from several logistical, personal, and familial considerations—rather than outright exclusion.
Operation London Bridge: A Carefully Orchestrated Farewell
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II triggered a meticulously planned operation known as Operation London Bridge, a protocol developed over decades that detailed the official sequence of events following the monarch’s death. It included everything from public mourning procedures to state funeral arrangements.
Given the Queen’s advanced age and declining health, members of the royal family were prepared for the possibility of having to gather quickly. At the time of her death, King Charles III, who was still Prince of Wales, contacted his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, urging them to travel to Balmoral promptly.
Meghan Markle’s Absence: A Decision Rooted in Logistics and Sensitivity
While Prince Harry made the journey alone to Scotland, Meghan Markle remained in London, despite previously being scheduled to join her husband. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex initially indicated that both would travel to Balmoral. However, those plans changed, and Meghan did not make the trip.
According to the 2024 biography “Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story” by royal correspondent Robert Hardman, it was King Charles who personally requested that Meghan stay behind—not out of hostility, but to reduce emotional tension during an already difficult moment for the family.
Charles reportedly wished to ensure that the royal focus remained on the Queen’s final moments, rather than on any potential interpersonal conflicts stemming from the family’s strained relationships.
“He wanted the focus to be on the Queen and nothing else,” Hardman wrote.
Source: Robert Hardman, Charles III: New King, New Court, 2024
Reported by Daily Mail – https://www.dailymail.co.uk
The Role of Kate Middleton: Why She Also Did Not Attend
It was initially assumed that Catherine, Princess of Wales, had also been asked not to travel to Balmoral, offering a sense of parity that helped ease Prince Harry’s disappointment about Meghan’s absence.
However, Hardman’s biography clarifies that Kate was not asked to stay away. Rather, she made the decision independently to remain in Windsor to support her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—on their first day at Lambrook School.
This family-focused choice was communicated internally and then presented publicly as part of the narrative surrounding the Queen’s final hours. According to Hardman’s reporting, this explanation also helped to calm Harry, who noted in his memoir Spare that knowing Kate wouldn’t be there provided him with some peace of mind.
The Sussexes’ Relationship with the Royal Family
Since stepping back from royal duties in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family has remained complex. Their decision to pursue a more private life in California, combined with public interviews—including their 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey—highlighted tensions that continue to shape public perceptions of the couple’s role within the monarchy.
Despite their move away from official royal duties, the couple was already in the UK in September 2022 for previously scheduled charity events when news of the Queen’s health decline emerged. This proximity raised questions when only Harry made the journey to Balmoral.
Harry’s Reflection in Spare
In his memoir Spare, published in January 2023, Prince Harry recalled learning that only he would travel to Scotland. He described a mix of emotions upon hearing that Meghan was not invited and admitted to initially feeling hurt. However, he also noted that understanding Kate’s absence helped bring him a sense of balance during a painful time.
“Knowing Kate was staying behind made it feel less targeted, more about the moment,” Harry wrote.
Source: Prince Harry, Spare, 2023
Penguin Random House – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734656/spare-by-prince-harry-the-duke-of-sussex/
Focus on Family Over Conflict
The decision to limit attendance at the Queen’s deathbed to a small circle of immediate family members can be interpreted not as an exclusion but as an effort to maintain privacy, intimacy, and focus. King Charles, navigating the immense pressure of losing his mother while preparing to ascend the throne, reportedly prioritized reducing distractions and interpersonal tensions.
A royal insider told The Telegraph in 2023 that Charles’s intent was to ensure the Queen’s final moments were “peaceful and focused solely on love and family.”
Conclusion: A Moment Defined by Family and Reverence
While the public may continue to speculate about Meghan Markle’s absence from Balmoral, the available facts suggest a deliberate, sensitive decision made in the interest of preserving a solemn and unified atmosphere as Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
Prince Harry’s journey to Scotland, the absence of both Meghan and Kate, and King Charles’s leadership during a time of national mourning illustrate a royal family striving to honor tradition while navigating modern complexities.
As the monarchy evolves under King Charles III, moments like these serve as reminders of the deeply personal dynamics behind public appearances—and of the efforts made to maintain unity and dignity in the face of profound loss.
Verified Sources:
- Royal.uk – https://www.royal.uk
- BBC News – https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62836057
- Robert Hardman, Charles III: New King, New Court, 2024
- The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com
- Penguin Random House – Spare by Prince Harry – https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
- The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk
