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Queen Elizabeth II: Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the pre-burial reception at Buckingham Palace?

September 17, 2022

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The drama for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continued over the weekend as it was unclear whether the Sussexes would attend a pre-burial reception at Buckingham Palace on the eve of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – who moved to California after stepping down as senior royals in 2020 – reportedly originally received an invite to the Sunday evening reception, but conflicting reports said they were and weren’t supposed to attend.

According to the Telegraph, they were no longer invited because palace officials insisted the reception hosted by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, was for members of the Royal Family only, which Harry and Meghan are not.

Yahoo New UK, however, reported that while the reception was restricted to serving members of the Royal Family only, an exception was made and the Sussexes are expected to attend.

FOR MEGHAN AND HARRY DINNER IS SERVED, AND ON THE MENU IS ‘REVENGE’: ROYAL EXPERT

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Westminster Hall, London, after Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was brought into the room to lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday September 14, 2022 in London, England .
(Photo Danny Lawson – WPA Pool/Getty Images))

The “king and queen consort, accompanied by members of the royal family” plan to host hundreds of world leaders and royals from other countries, the palace announced on Friday. President Biden is among those expected at Monday’s reception and funeral.

There have been considerable tensions between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the family – particularly his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales – since they left the UK, which has not was helped by their revealing interview with Oprah. In the interview, among other accusations, they claimed the palace failed to help a suicidal Meghan and that someone made a racist comment about their son, 3-year-old Archie.

The couple surprised the public when they appeared with William and Kate at Windsor Castle last Saturday to thank members of the public grieving for Her Majesty.

SOPHIE’S CHOICE? HOW MEGHAN WAS CONFLICTED BY THIS CAR: ROYAL EXPERT

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds gathered and tributes were paid at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.
(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The four were seen at later events, including the arrival of the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall on Wednesday for her laying in state.

Meghan and Harry caused a sensation when leaving Westminster Hall holding hands, leading some to believe they broke royal protocol on public displays of affection, but royal expert Shannon Felton Spence told Fox News Digital there was no “Formal ‘rules’ against PDA”.

But “we don’t see it often from the royals because usually when we see them they’re at work,” Spence explained. “They present their most professional appearance. When we see William and Catherine going out, they are husband and wife colleagues.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96, on Monday.
(Steve Parsons – WPA Pool)

Spence said royal couples sometimes hold hands in public, but it’s usually in more causal contexts.

And while some said the display was inappropriate, others felt Meghan was simply supporting her grieving husband for his grandmother.

“I will give them a pass for today when they come out of Westminster Hall because this procession must have been very traumatic for Harry, and they are all in mourning,” Spence said.

The kerfuffle on the invitation recalls a drama that unfolded over the week over whether Harry would wear his military uniform when he watched around the Queen’s coffin with William and their cousins on Saturday.

At first it was reported he would not be allowed to wear his uniform – despite Prince Andrew losing his military titles earlier this year amid sexual assault allegations.

But on Friday it was reported that he would wear the uniform “at the king’s request”.

Harry and Meghan are due to attend the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

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The Queen died aged 96 on September 8 after reigning for 70 years.