Prince Harry is returning to the UK for a celebration of the Invictus Games, but Meghan Markle won’t be joining her husband as some have suggested she feared ‘waves of abuse’

Meghan Markle has decided not to join Prince Harry when he returns to the UK next week, with one expert suggesting she feared getting a bad reception from the public.

The Duke of Sussex will visit London on May 8 for a special service to commemorate the Invictus Games. It’s been confirmed Harry will make the trip alone, with Meghan once again turning down the chance to come to the UK.

It’s not been revealed why Meghan has snubbed the trip, but royal author Omid Scobie previously said the former actress “never wants to set foot again in England”. Here, we’ve taken a look at all of the reasons why Meghan might not feel welcome coming to the UK with Harry.

‘Waves of abuse’

Meghan Markle was worried about the reception she’d receive ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Meghan struggled during her time in the UK and was booed by crowds at some events. Royal expert Charlotte Griffiths believes the Duchess of Sussex was worried she would receive waves of abuse if she returned to London again.

Speaking to GB News, she said Meghan “knows she’ll get booed and get a bad reception” if she were to step foot in the UK again. Charlotte added: “If she was to come to the UK, it would be really difficult. It would bring up terrible memories of the past for her and awkward moments when she was in various churches and things.”

‘Never again’ promise

She’s previously vowed never to return ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Meghan has made very few return trips to the UK since stepping back from the Royal Family and she reportedly has no intention of ever returning to England. Royal author Omid Scobie wrote in his bombshell book Endgame that the Duchess of Sussex “never felt at home” in the UK.

He said she: “Never wants to set foot again in England.” He suggested the reason behind Meghan’s decision was because she wanted to “dive back into the soap opera of the court”.

Booed by crowds

The Sussexes have been booed by crowds ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
It’s very rare for Meghan to travel to the UK nowadays, but she did return with Harry for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. However, they didn’t get a warm welcome from royal fans.

The Sussexes attended the national service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral as part of the celebrations. It was their first joint public appearance with the Royal Family in two years. A video of the couple leaving the service showed crowds booing as they left St Paul’s Cathedral.

Meghan then decided not to join her husband as he returned to the UK once again in May 2023 for King Charles’ coronation. American news presenter Megyn Kelly suggested Meghan didn’t join Harry for the trip over fears of being booed once again. “I really think Ms Duchess couldn’t stomach the thought of getting booed,” she said on Sky News Australia.

‘Savaged’ by the press

Meghan has been on the front page of a number of newspapers ( 
Image:
Netflix)

Broadcaster Ateh Jewel believes Meghan has decided to snub Harry’s upcoming UK trip after being treated unfairly by the press. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: “Before Oprah she has been absolutely savaged in this country.”

When asked if she believes Meghan doesn’t want to come because she fears being “torn apart by the tabloid press”, Ateh said: “Definitely. This is someone who has said that she has been suicidal, she reached out for help, she was not helped. It is about protecting her mental health.”

However, royal commentator Duncan Larcombe shot back: “When Meghan turned up on the scene, it was a breath of fresh air. It was the ‘Markle sparkle’. The way it was reported was entirely positive.” He added: “To say that newspapers, particularly the British press, have just decided with this woman we’re going to make her a public hate figure, it’s not true.”

UK trip snubbed

Prince Harry will return to the UK alone ( 
Image:
2018 Getty Images)
After months of speculation, it was finally revealed earlier this week Meghan will not be returning to the UK with Harry. Royal correspondent Chris Ship confirmed the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said: “Additional confirmation this morning that Meghan will not be joining Harry for the Invictus Anniversary service at @StPaulsLondon in London. But the Duchess of Sussex will join the Duke for an Invictus-inspired visit to Nigeria immediately after Harry leaves the UK.”

The news comes after it was announced Harry will attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. A statement published on the Invictus Games’ social media accounts read: “The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th. We will be joined by our Patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the worldwide Invictus Community to mark the occasion.”