King Charles blocked Meghan Markle from Queen's final moments: Here's why

Meghan Markle was reportedly asked by King Charles to stay away from Queen Elizabeth II’s deathbed for a key reason, according to a new royal book.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were already in the UK for work commitments when the 96-year-old monarch passed away on September 8, 2022. However, when it came time to rush to Balmoral Estate in Scotland, Meghan was suddenly dropped from the plans.

Initially, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan stated that both would be traveling to Scotland to see the Queen before her passing. However, just hours later, reports surfaced that Meghan would no longer be joining Harry, due to a "change of plans."

At the time, it was widely reported that King Charles had requested Meghan stay behind, allowing Harry to visit his grandmother alone—a decision that also applied to the now-Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.

According to royal author Robert Hardman, in his book Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, Charles wanted only direct family members present, ensuring the royals could say their final goodbyes privately and not get caught up in family tensions.

In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recalled feeling furious when he was told Meghan wasn’t welcome.

"Then came another call from Pa," Harry wrote. "He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn’t want… her. He started to lay out his reason, which was nonsensical and disrespectful, and I wasn’t having it. ‘Don’t ever speak about my wife that way.’"

However, Harry admitted that learning Kate Middleton was also not traveling to Balmoral helped calm him down.

"He stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn’t want a lot of people around. No other wives were coming, Kate wasn’t coming, he said, therefore Meg shouldn’t. 'Then that’s all you needed to say.’"

With no response from Prince William and commercial flights to Aberdeen unavailable, Harry was forced to take a private charter from Luton Airport, boarding just two hours later.

Have Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gone back to the UK?

Following the Queen's passing, Meghan Markle has not traveled to the UK. Their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, have not visited Britain since the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

While tensions between Harry and the royal family remain strained, the Queen’s death marked a pivotal moment in their relationship with the monarchy—one that continues to make headlines today.

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