Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may not attend Queen’s 95th birthday parade because of Covid pandemic

MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry may not attend the Queen’s 95th birthday parade due to the Covid pandemic.

The pair, who now live in LA, are expected to attend as it’s both a “family occasion” and an official event.



Meghan and Harry could be unable to attend this year’s birthday parade

The Queen invited the pair to her celebrations on June 12, in the first royal reunion since Megxit.

But a source close to the couple told the Telegraph: “It’s a little presumptuous for any of us to be speculating about whether we can travel anywhere this summer.”

They distanced the pair from reports saying they had “set their sights on a return to Britain” and attend “lots of family events”.

It comes after we told how her Majesty, 94, is said to be determined to get “back to business” after she was forced to cancel a string of royal events last year due to the pandemic.

And she invited her grandson and Meghan to join her for Trooping the Colour in London to mark her official birthday.

It would be the first time they have publicly reunited since Harry and Meghan sensationally quit the royal family last January.

Trooping the Colour is usually held in public with Meghan previously joining other royals – including Kate Middleton – on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Attending the event would also mean Harry would be in the UK for his grandad, the Duke of Edinburgh’s, 100th birthday.

REUNION SCUPPERED?

The military parade falls two days after the milestone with the royals hoping to give praise this year to the army, who are helping roll out the Covid vaccine.

Last year, the Queen beamed as she enjoyed a stripped-back and socially distant Trooping the Colour ceremony in honour of her birthday.

For the first time in 125 years, the ceremony took place at Windsor Castle where she has been shielding with Prince Philip.

More than 1,700 troops and 400 musicians traditionally perform at London’s Horse Guards Parade in front of huge crowds.

But last year, fewer than 100 Welsh Guards participated in a private parade.

It comes amid speculation about when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would return to the UK from their home in LA, where they have spent the last year.

They had been due to meet the Queen in March for their 12-month review of Megxit but this was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

The Royal Family has a packed diary of big events Prince Harry would be keen not to miss out on.

This includes the unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana that Wills and Harry commissioned together.

The last royal event involving the couple was at the Queen’s Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey last March.

But the day was overshadowed by the Megxit bombshell and came amid reports Prince William was furious with his brother’s decision.

William and Kate have continued their royal duties through the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan pursued a mega-bucks TV deal with Netflix and championed causes close to their hearts, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.

Despite the rift, it’s claimed that Meghan and Harry don’t regret stepping down as senior royals.

A source told People the couple “love” their newfound freedom to work on special projects and life away from the “firm”.

The leak, which came from someone close to the couple, told the magazine: “Meghan and Harry took a huge leap of faith to embark on their new life.

“Despite everything that has been going on this year, they don’t regret their move to the US.

“They love that they are able to focus on projects and causes that are important to them.

“It was always their dream to be financially independent and pay their own way.

“Harry was finally doing what he’d wanted to do for years, and to have Meghan and Archie with him was all he could have asked for.”


A socially-distanced ceremony took place this morning
The Queen took part in a scaled-down version of Trooping the Colour last year

The pair live in California with their young son, Archie
The pair live in California with their young son, Archie

The couple left the UK last year as they stepped down from royal life
The couple left the UK last year as they stepped down from royal life