UPDATE 9/10/22: Markle was not invited, according to Entertainment Tonight: “It’s understood that the family wanted Prince Harry to be there, even though he was unable to get to Balmoral in time to see his grandmother… but Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was not, we understand, invited to join the family.”
Before she passed away, Queen Elizabeth II was under medical supervision and members of the royal family were rushing to be at her bedside, but Meghan Markle was reportedly not making the trip. That Markle would not travel to Balmoral, where the queen was under care, was confirmed by Page Six reportedly, while Prince Harry, Markle’s husband, was making the trip alone. HuffPo writer Philip Lewis similarly reported: “Meghan Markle is not traveling to Balmoral, BBC reports. Prince Harry is making the trip by himself,” reported Daily Wire.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the monarch, crowned back in 1953, was under medical supervision as she suffered from health issues. This is what a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace said that day: “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
But sadly, the very same day, the Queen died at the age of 96. Queen Elizabeth II, was ascended to the British throne at age 25, counted Winston Churchill and former President Reagan as close friends, and became the longest-reigning monarch in the nation’s history.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” the Royal Family confirmed the news on Twitter, writing in a statement. While Prince Harry was already on his way, the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, rushed to be at her bedside reportedly.
Thousands had gathered at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects, within an hour of the announcement. Some cried, others prayed, and others talked about the queen and her legacy. Notably, since Markle was pregnant with her second child last year, Markle did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral, as she was instructed not to fly. During a Christmas Broadcast in 2019, Queen Elizabeth II said: “It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”