Search icon

News

10th Apr 2021

Meghan Markle will not attend Prince Philip’s funeral

Charlie Herbert

The Duchess of Sussex will not travel due to her pregnancy

Meghan Markle will not be attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on doctor’s advice, according to Buckingham Palace.

Markle is heavily pregnant with her and Prince Harry’s second child and has therefore been advised not to fly over to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral, which will take place on 17 April.

Prince Harry however will be in attendance, the palace has announced. He will fly over from the couple’s home in California, following Covid-19 measures and protocols throughout the journey and his stay.

The Duchess has apparently made every effort possible to join her husband, but has not been given clearance to travel by her doctor.

It will be the first time that Harry returns to the UK since him and his wife stepped down from royal duties a year ago. It will also be the first time that he has met any of his family since the two took part in the headline-grabbing interview with Oprah last month.

Whilst current rules state that mourners travelling from overseas must self-isolate for ten days on arrival, it is expected that the Duke of Sussex will be allowed to leave his place of quarantine on compassionate grounds to attend the funeral.

Earlier on Saturday the details and plans for Prince Philip’s funeral were announced. The service will take place at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and will “very much” reflect the Duke of Edinburgh’s wishes.