A brief exchange between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton during the Duchess of Sussex’s first Trooping the Colour in 2018 created an uncomfortable moment that Prince Harry described as threatening to “swallow us all whole.” The incident occurred at one of the couple’s first public appearances as newlyweds, just weeks after their May 19 wedding ceremony. Harry revealed details of the awkward interaction in his memoir, describing how a simple question from Kate led to an unexpectedly tense silence among the royal family members.
Single-word joke falls flat during royal celebration
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned from their Mediterranean honeymoon just in time for the official June celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday. The atmosphere at Trooping the Colour was initially positive, with everyone present appearing to be in good spirits. However, when Kate Middleton asked Meghan what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour experience, the Duchess of Sussex responded with a play on words, describing the celebration as “Colourful.” The joke, referencing the event’s name, failed to land with the audience present. Instead of laughter or acknowledgment, the comment was met with complete silence that created palpable tension among the group.
The Duke of Sussex chose not to elaborate further on the uncomfortable moment in his book. He simply noted the awkward silence before moving on to describe subsequent events. Days later, Meghan embarked on her first solo royal trip with Queen Elizabeth II, and according to Harry, the two women “got on famously” during their time together. The contrast between the awkward Trooping the Colour moment and the successful outing with the Queen highlighted the complex dynamics Meghan was navigating as a new member of the royal family.
Mounting tensions between the two couples
The uncomfortable exchange at Trooping the Colour was not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader pattern of friction between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. Later that same month, the two couples attempted to clear the air about various tensions that had been building between them. During this meeting, multiple grievances were aired from both sides. Kate Middleton believed that Meghan had wanted access to her fashion contacts, and there had been friction over bridesmaids’ dresses at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
- William and Kate were upset that Harry and Meghan hadn’t given them Easter presents
- Kate told Meghan she owed her an apology for discussing her hormones as “baby brain” while the princess was pregnant
- Harry and Meghan were irritated that William and Kate had switched seats at their wedding
- The bridesmaid dress dispute was later described by experts as the “beginning of the end” for the relationship
Despite the attempt to resolve these issues, Prince Harry concluded in his memoir that “none of this airing of grievances was doing any good” and that “we weren’t getting anywhere.” The meeting failed to heal the growing rift between the two couples, which would continue to widen in the years to come.
Final appearances and absence from royal events
Harry and Meghan’s participation in Trooping the Colour became increasingly limited after 2018. Their last active participation in the parade occurred in 2019, before the couple made the decision to step back from senior royal duties and relocate to the United States at the beginning of 2020. The couple made one more appearance at the event in 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, but their role was significantly diminished. They watched the parade from a side window of Buckingham Palace rather than joining the procession, and they were not invited to appear on the balcony with the senior working royals.
This year’s Trooping the Colour proceeded without the Sussexes, who remained in California while King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated alongside Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis traveled in carriages or on horseback during the annual parade, marking a new generation’s involvement in the traditional celebration. Harry and Meghan were not extended an invitation to attend the event, continuing their absence from major royal occasions.
Prince Harry focuses on Invictus Games work
While Trooping the Colour took place in London, Prince Harry made a video appearance at an Invictus event in Germany. The 41-year-old spoke remotely at the opening day of the Invictus Germany Sports Festival in Düsseldorf, which is connected to the wounded service member and veteran sports competition he founded in 2014. During his address, Harry told contestants it was an “honor” to send his message as they gathered for another Invictus sporting event. He praised Germany for setting “a powerful example of what it means to honor service with dignity and enduring commitment,” emphasizing the importance of supporting wounded veterans and active service members through athletic competition and community building.
The timing of his appearance at the Invictus event while his family gathered for the traditional military parade in London underscored the physical and symbolic distance that now exists between Harry and the royal family. His focus on the Invictus Games, a project he created and continues to champion, represents his efforts to maintain meaningful work and purpose outside the constraints of royal life. The contrast between his charitable work in Germany and the ceremonial duties taking place in Britain illustrated the divergent paths the Duke of Sussex and his relatives have taken since his departure from royal responsibilities.
