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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to Balmoral for Queen’s retreat

Reports of a stunning offer from the Queen to her grandson and his wife made headlines around the world recently – but insiders have now set the record straight.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to Balmoral for Queen’s retreat

There’ll be no wafts of Scottish heather and bracing hikes for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they are not on the Balmoral summer guest list, Page Six is told.

Despite reports the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to join the Queen on her annual summer break in the highlands, New York Post reports there was no such invite.

The Sun claimed staff at the 96-year-old monarch’s Scottish estate had been told to expect a full list of royals, including “Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet”.

However, multiple sources confirmed to Page Six that the Sussexes will not be going to visit Harry’s grandmother.

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Meghan and Harry won’t be jetting to Balmoral this year. Picture: Matt Dunham/AFP
Meghan and Harry won’t be jetting to Balmoral this year. Picture: Matt Dunham/AFP

The couple will stay in the US ahead of the publication of Harry’s much-anticipated memoir this fall.

Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, last saw the Queen in June when they flew to the UK to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. There, they introduced one-year-old daughter Lilibet – nicknamed Lili – to her great grandmother for the first time.

Balmoral Castle. Picture: Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Balmoral Castle. Picture: Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Queen, in fact, got to meet her namesake twice, as Page Six revealed.

Although they were not invited on to the balcony at Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes – sans children – then attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony and a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Prince Charles and the Queen won’t be hanging out with the Sussexes at Balmoral. Picture: Andrew Milligan-WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Charles and the Queen won’t be hanging out with the Sussexes at Balmoral. Picture: Andrew Milligan-WPA Pool/Getty Images

However, they did not spend any private time with Harry’s brother, Prince William, his wife Kate Middleton and their three children. Although the Cambridges were invited to Lilibet’s first birthday gathering at Frogmore Cottage, they were in Wales on official business.

They did manage to introduce Lilibet to her grandfather, Prince Charles, in an “emotional” meeting, sources close to the heir to the throne later said.

The Queen was spotted in Scotland last week, and will spend the months of August and September at her highland retreat, where she will be joined by other family members, including William, Kate and their kids, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4.

A rep for the Sussexes was unavailable for comment.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to Balmoral for Queen’s retreat

Read related topics:Meghan MarklePrince Harry

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-were-not-invited-to-balmoral-for-queens-retreat/news-story/9ae8c2b3c40525f41774f1d053e1cb28