On 1 July 2021, Princess Diana would have turned 60. To mark this anniversary, a statue of her will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony. The event will be an opportunity for the royal family to reunite publicly for the first time since Prince Philip's funeral. However, Meghan Markle will not be attending. Last Saturday (19 June), the Daily Express reported that Prince William reportedly did not want the Duchess of Sussex to be there, and played a part in her decision to stay in the US. Royal expert Charlotte Griffiths told MailPlus' Palace Confidential:
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This decision and the whole thing was 50% William's doing.
Practical inconvenience
Charlotte Griffiths said the occasion was not the right one to attend a full family reunion:
It wasn't the right time to bring Meghan because there's so much tension between her and William.
For their part, the Sussex couple have gone on record as saying that Archie and Lilibet's mother Diana will not be travelling to London because 'they have a very young baby and it's not practical for them to fly as a family,' the Mail's diary editor said.
An interview with the Queen is planned
At the ceremony, Prince Harry will be alone facing the Windsor clan, whereas his previous visit to London dates back to the funeral of Prince Philip. The Duke of Sussex and his brother will unveil a statue that they have been working on since 2017. It will be placed and unveiled at Diana's favourite spot in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
To mark this moving event, Elizabeth II is said to have invited Prince Harry, during her visit, to a lunch at Windsor Castle, while tensions are still high. This will be their first meeting since the Megxit. It may be an opportunity to calm the situation and find common ground.
