The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony since 2019
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were absent from Buckingham Palace's famous balcony for the seventh consecutive year as King Charles and senior members of the Royal Family gathered to celebrate the monarch's official birthday on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020 before relocating to California with their two children. Their departure followed ongoing tensions with senior royals, leading the couple to build a new life in the United States.
Despite reports suggesting Harry has been seeking to repair relations with his father since King Charles was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, the Sussexes were once again missing from the traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance. As part of reconciliation efforts, Harry previously met with the King at Clarence House.
The last time Harry and Meghan joined the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony was in 2019 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In the years that followed, royal celebrations were either cancelled or significantly reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the couple returned to the UK for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and watched the parade, they were not included in the balcony appearance.
Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince William and Catherine, along with their children, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, and Duchess Sophie for the traditional balcony gathering. The royals watched the military fly-past following Trooping the Colour.
An Instagram post shared after the event stated: "Members of the Royal Family watch the fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace following The King's Birthday Parade."
