Prince Harry and Meghan Markle excluded from royal family's summer retreat at Balmoral Castle
ABERDEENSHIRE, SCOTLAND: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been snubbed from King Charles' exclusive summer retreat at Balmoral, according to People magazine.
Royal insiders have confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation to join the monarch for the summer holidays - the exclusion has been in place since they departed from royal duties in 2020.
Prince Harry won't return to Balmoral despite fond memories
Balmoral, nestled in the scenic Aberdeenshire, holds a cherished place in the royal family's heart, serving as a beloved summer haven, but Harry, who has fond memories of his numerous visits during his youth, won't be returning to the iconic castle this year.
For years, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been left off the guest list for the royal family’s summer retreat in the Scottish Highlands, sources revealed.
King Charles, continuing Queen Elizabeth's cherished tradition, heads to Balmoral each late summer, yet Harry and his family are notably absent this year.
“It was a life of picnics and paddling around,” once reminisced Margaret Rhodes, the Queen's cousin.
After stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex carved out a new life in Montecito, California.
They have not returned to the UK with their children since Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, amidst an ongoing rift.
This tension, which began when Prince Harry, 39, and Markle, 42, stepped down, has since been marked by sharp criticisms and deep-seated wounds.
For Prince Harry, security remains a critical and contentious issue, as multiple insiders in his circle confide to People.
Despite a promising meeting in February following the King's cancer diagnosis, communication between father and son has since faltered.
The apparent snub marks a further deterioration of the relationship.
Those close to Prince Harry reveal that the sovereign now neither answers his son’s calls nor responds to his letters.
"He gets 'unavailable right now,'" said a friend of Prince Harry. "His calls go unanswered. He's reached out about the King's health, but even those calls go ignored."
Balmoral was Queen Elizabeth's personal favorite
Balmoral Castle has been a significant royal residence since it was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1852. Reportedly, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited Balmoral and fell in love with the area.
The castle serves as a private holiday retreat for the British royal family, particularly cherished by Queen Elizabeth, who regarded it as her "dear paradise in the Highlands" and spent many summers there with her family.
The estate spans approximately 50,000 acres, featuring diverse landscapes including mountains, forests, and gardens according to Vanity Fair.
It is not only a place for relaxation but also hosts various outdoor activities such as deer stalking and grouse shooting, which are traditional pursuits of the royal family.
The estate is actively managed for farming, forestry, and wildlife, with significant efforts toward conservation and environmental stewardship.
It also became increasingly significant to the late Queen Elizabeth, serving as a cherished summer retreat where she could escape her royal duties and spend time with her family.
Balmoral is steeped in history, having been the backdrop for significant family moments, including the last public appearance of her late majesty and the tragic news of Princess Diana's death being delivered to her sons, Princes William and Harry, at the estate.
Recently, King Charles has opened parts of Balmoral to the public for the first time, allowing visitors to explore areas previously reserved for the royal family.
This initiative reflects a broader effort to make royal properties more accessible and to share the rich history of the royal family with the public, per BBC
