Meghan Markle's 'sad' decision to skip UK trip will leave Prince Harry 'lonely', expert claims
Meghan Markle has been criticised for her decision not to accompany Prince Harry during his upcoming UK visit for a poignant event, with one royal expert branding the move "sad".
Harry is set to attend a service on May 8, at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, where he will participate with a reading. Notably, St Paul's Cathedral holds historical significance for Harry as it was the wedding venue for his parents.
Royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths expressed concern that Harry would feel "so lonely" without Meghan and described the situation as "so sad". She also speculated that no senior Royal Family members might be present to support him.
While there has been no official confirmation from the Sussexes or Buckingham Palace regarding any family meetings during Harry's trip, Charlotte commented that the service could appear "very stark" if Harry attends solo, reports the Mirror.
In a discussion on GB News, Charlotte remarked on the emotional weight of the location: "That's where his parents got married. It's going to be a very sombre and senior event."
Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles tied the knot in 1981 but separated in 1992, finalising their divorce in 1996.
Charlotte suggested that Harry would likely prefer to have Meghan by his side for such a significant occasion at St Paul's Cathedral. "It's a really important part of Harry's soul, and the kind of thing he'd want his wife, maybe even his kids by his side for," she said.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Earlier this week it was established that, despite months of conjecture, Meghan will not be accompanying Harry to the UK. This was confirmed by Royal correspondent Chris Ship on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, who stated: "Additional confirmation this morning that Meghan will not be joining Harry for the Invictus Anniversary service at @StPaulsLondon in London. But the Duchess of Sussex will join the Duke for an Invictus-inspired visit to Nigeria immediately after Harry leaves the UK."
Though Meghan has chosen to bypass the UK journey, she has plans to meet with her husband on his subsequent trip to Nigeria. They aim to partake in cultural activities and engage with service members and their families.
Since stepping away from royal duties in 2020, Meghan's visits to the UK have been sparse. The Duchess made a return to support the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, but has been absent since the Queen's funeral in September 2022.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.