Prince Harry will return to the UK next month to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but his wife Meghan Markle won’t be joining him for the trip

Meghan Markle, the US fiancee of Britain's Prince Harry, attends an Anzac Day dawn service at Hyde Park Corner in London on April 25, 2018. - Anzac Day commemorates Australian and New Zealand casualties and veterans of conflicts and marks the anniversary of the landings in the Dardanelles on April 25, 1915 that would signal the start of the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / various sources / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

After months of speculation, it’s now been revealed Meghan Markle will not be returning to the UK with her husband Prince Harry next month.

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, on Wednesday May 8. The special service will mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, with actor Damian Lewis expected to recite a poem at the event.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch sitting volleyball at the Merkur Spiel-Arena during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf
Prince Harry will have to make the UK trip alone ( 
Image:
PA)
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.”

While Meghan will be skipping the UK trip, she will join her husband on a visit to Nigeria. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Nigeria in May for talks on the Invictus Games. During their stay, Harry and Meghan are expected to take part in cultural activities and meet with service members and their families.

Meghan and Harry moved away from the UK after stepping down from the Royal Family in 2020. Since then, the Duchess of Sussex has made very few return trips to the UK.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on stage at SXSW Festival
Meghan Markle will join her husband in Nigeria ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

She joined the Royal Family to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, but hasn’t returned since the Queen’s funeral in September 2022. Meghan decided to skip King Charles’ Coronation in May 2023, meaning Harry had to attend alone.

Her decision not to join Harry for his upcoming trip comes after the Duke of Sussex opened up about his desire to make more visits to see his family. During an interview with Good Morning America back in February, Harry said: “So my family and my life in California is as it is. I have got other trips planned. That would take me through the UK or back to the UK, so you know, I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”