Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “really want to be” at the event to honor Princess Diana on her 60th birthday, they may not attend due to their daughter’s birth.
What We Know:
- The Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers announced on Lorraine Kelly’s talk show that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would welcome their child as soon as “the next couple of weeks.”
- Myers also mentioned if Harry does partake in the ceremony, it is uncertain if Prince William and Harry will give separate speeches or come together for one. Furthermore, Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words, believes Meghan may never willingly return to the United Kingdom, especially after she delivers their daughter.
- Myers said the brothers, alongside Kensington Palace officials, began planning the project in 2017. The brothers wanted to add a statue of their mother in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden to mark the anniversary of her death and “recognize her positive impact.” Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the unveiling date moved from last summer to July 1 of this year. In addition, the new date falls on what would have been a milestone birthday for Princess Diana.
- Many expected the event to repair the broken relationship between William and Harry. The fraternity turned sour after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties and moved to the U.S. last year. Additionally, William pulled further away after Oprah Winfrey’s bombshell interview with the couple; among many revelations disclosed in the discussion, the Duke and Duchess declared members of the Royal Family attacked them with racist comments about their son Archie’s skin color. Meghan also had suicidal ideations while pregnant due to rumors about her and the feeling that nobody defended her.
- Harry felt he needed to protect his family by distancing himself from royalty. He cited he did not want history to repeat itself, referencing his mother’s experiences and untimely death. However, the Royal Family denied all of the Sussexes’ claims, stating they felt “saddened” by them.
- William and Harry reunited shortly for the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Phillip. According to Royal commentator Eve Phillip, it symbolized “a good sign for relations repairing inside the fractured family.”
Harry’s presence in England next month, or lack thereof, will possibly determine the future of the Sussexes’ relationship with their Royal Family.
