Relations between the Sussexes and the The Firm have been fraught in recent years in the wake of Harry’s memoir, Spare
The pair have been repeatedly ‘snubbed’ by the Palace this year, according to royal watchers. (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the Royal Family has grown pretty frosty since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to the US.
Despite clinging onto their titles, the pair have been absent from frontline royal engagements. In recent years they’ve been largely sidelined in the wake of Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, and various interviews about his unhappiness in the family.
Here are some notable Palace “snubs” suffered by the Sussexes this year, according to royal watchers.
1. Palace ‘ignores’ Archie and Lilibet’s birthdays
Back in June, the Royal Family made no public acknowledgement of Princess Lilibet’s birthday online, which some saw as a brutal snub to Prince Harry.
Lilibet, the Sussexes’ second child, turned three on June 4.
READ MORE: Prince Harry ‘at a loss’ as he ‘backs away’ from Meghan
Harry and Meghan now live in Montecito, California, with their two children. (Image: Getty)
Harry and Meghan reportedly marked their daughter’s special day with an intimate party at their Montecito home.
Fans eagerly waited to see if members of the Royal Family would offer well-wishes on social media, only to be disappointed, though birthday messages may have been sent privately.
Prince Archie celebrated his fifth birthday in May and also did not appear to get a public mention from the royals.
Despite the apparent sub, King Charles is said to be “desperate” to have a relationship with his two youngest grandchildren.
2. Meghan’s birthday ‘ignored’ by Palace
In an apparent snub to Meghan, the Firm remained silent as the Duchess celebrated her 43rd birthday on August 4.
According to People magazine, the Duchess spent the day “privately” at home with family, as she has done in previous years.
However, royal watchers will see the silence from the Royal Family as evidence of the strained relationship between Meghan, Prince Harry, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.
3. Balmoral summer visit
The Balmoral Estate is known as the summer destination for the Royal Family, with many royals travelling to spend some time there every August.
Charles said to be ‘desperate’ to have a relationship with his two youngest grandchildren. (Image: Getty)
The tradition was previously held by the late Queen, who is known to have loved Balmoral. King Charles also enjoys spending time there and is following suit with the annual trip.
Prince Harry previously fondly described his past visits to Balmoral as “simply paradise”, though reportedly hasn’t been invited over the past few years, including this summer.
Although Harry nor Meghan have confirmed – or denied – that they have received an invite, the couple are not expected to join the royals there this month.
4. King Charles ‘screening Harry’s calls’
Prince Harry and King Charles last met face-to-face for 45 minutes in February in London, following the King’s cancer diagnosis.
The pair are thought to have last enjoyed a lengthy phone call earlier this year, but since then conflicting schedules have meant the duo have been unable to meet in person to try and iron out the friction that remains in the Royal Family
However, royal expert Robert Jobson speculated on the reason King Charles may have stopped responding to calls from his youngest son, telling The Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast: “He has taken them in the past, but I think anybody that knows the situation, who would want to keep taking calls if the conversation just ends in a slanging match about money and legal fees?”
“I think the King has got too much on his plate,” Jobson continued. “He’s been not well at all and he’s been dealing with that.
“He’s only just become the King, he’s got too much to deal with, rather than dealing with Harry’s constant demands.”
5. Charles’ ‘clear message’ to Harry over Frogmore Cottage
A royal expert claims King Charles is sending a clear message to Prince Harry that he won’t be welcomed back to his beloved former home, Frogmore Cottage.
The monarch, aged 75, is reportedly urging his brother, Prince Andrew, to leave the spacious Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocate to Frogmore Cottage.
But a year on from Prince Harry’s eviction from the property, King Charles is delivering a potent message, according to royal author and expert Tom Quinn.
Mr Quinn told The Mirror: “For King Charles, forcing Andrew to move to Frogmore solves several problems at once it sends a message to Harry that, as a private citizen and no longer a working royal, he will never be allowed back to Frogmore.”