The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will be absent from King Charles III's Trooping the Colour birthday celebration, according to reports. People magazine indicated that the couple did not receive an invitation to the time-honored event, which traces its origins back to the 18th century.
Neither Buckingham Palace nor Archewell, the Sussexes' organization, offered a statement to People, and they have not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. This year marks King Charles' revival of the tradition of the monarch participating in the Trooping the Colour on horseback, a practice unseen since Queen Elizabeth II's ride in 1986.
Trooping the Colour serves as the sovereign's annual public birthday celebration. While King Charles's actual birthday is in November, this event provides a grander, public spectacle. The King has been a participant in this event since his youth, initially attending for his grandfather, King George VI, and subsequently for his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince William, along with Kate Middleton and their children, will be present, with Prince William participating on horseback in his role as honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards. The elaborate ceremony involves over 1,400 soldiers, 400 horses, and 400 musicians. The King will receive a royal salute and inspect the troops, followed by musical performances and a procession of the regimental colour.
The royal family will travel by carriage and horseback to Buckingham Palace, where the King will receive another salute. From the palace balcony, the King and other royal family members will watch the Royal Air Force perform a flypast, accompanied by a 41-gun salute from Green Park.
Last year, Harry and Meghan attended the Trooping the Colour with Queen Elizabeth II, viewing the parade from the Major General's Office. Their position, slightly removed from the main balcony, reflects their non-working royal status.
Prince Harry's recent UK visit involved a court appearance for his lawsuit against a newspaper publisher. He also attended King Charles's coronation last month while Meghan remained in California with their children, Archie and Lilibet. Reports suggest Harry returned to California shortly after the coronation to celebrate Archie's birthday.
