Meghan Markle experienced feelings of humiliation and profound sadness during her recent four-day visit to the United Kingdom, a trip where she was not publicly seen, according to sources close to the couple. The Duchess of Sussex has adopted a strategy of letting her husband, Prince Harry, take the lead in ongoing disputes with his family, including a significant disagreement over lodging at Buckingham Palace.
Despite the reunion with King Charles, which included Meghan, Prince Harry, Archie, and Lilibet, the Duchess was reportedly left with "a lot of sadness" after plans for her to accompany Harry at public engagements fell through. Initially, Harry had hoped his wife and young children would join him for the entire five-day visit, which was primarily focused on the Invictus Games and his former charities. However, he traveled to Britain alone. Hours before his arrival, controversy arose when an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace was rescinded.
Meghan delayed her arrival in the UK, entering the country with Archie and Lilibet amidst security concerns. A friend of the couple told People magazine that Meghan felt "humiliated" by the circumstances of the week. Another source indicated that while Meghan is "very supportive" of Harry, she experienced "a lot of sadness" at being unable to publicly stand by his side during his engagements in London and Birmingham.
Sources suggest the King lost patience with Harry after the Duke initially rejected and then attempted to accept an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace after the deadline had passed. Harry's spokesman had announced he would be staying at the Palace, but the King's aides indicated it was too late. Regarding family matters, a source told People that Meghan "always lets him lead." The source added that difficulties in communication and arrangements are not new, and that security concerns remain a primary factor impacting their certainty when traveling.
The visit concluded with a private family reunion at Highgrove, involving King Charles and Queen Camilla. This marked the first time the King had seen Meghan and their children since 2022. However, Meghan's absence from Harry's public Invictus Games events reportedly left her deeply upset, according to friends.
Following the UK trip, Prince Harry made a public appearance without Meghan at the TIME100 Sports Gala in New York City. He also commented on England's World Cup semi-final loss, expressing his disappointment. Harry was recognized at the event as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026. His brother, Prince William, had previously shared his own disappointment on social media regarding the team's defeat.