Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'want to be invited to' two key A-list events

It comes as the Sussexes missed out on one of the major high society events of the year last week, after missing the Duke of Westminster's wedding.

By Chris SamuelMax Parry, News Reporter

Invictus Games 2023

The pair are said to be keen to get invites to major A-list events in the US (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a "challenge" securing invites to A-list events in the US, a royal expert claims, with two key ones they "want to be seen at". The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to California after announcing in early 2020 they would be stepping down as senior royals.

Since their move, statewide relations with the rest of the Royal Family are said to be fraught, and in the past couple of years Harry has made only brief trips to Britain on his own.

The Sussexes also missed out on one of the major high society events of the year last week, the marriage of Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, a close pal of both Prince Harry and Prince William. Speaking to The Mirror, Richard Fitzwilliams said: "The challenge for Harry and Meghan is to attend comparable events in the United States which are not focused on them.

"The Met Gala and the Oscars are the sort of events they would benefit from being seen at, since they have pretensions to be A-listers. Barack Obama's 60th, held in 2021, the year they were in Time Magazine's Top 100, is the sort of event they would undoubtedly want to be seen at but were not invited to."

A representative for the Sussexes has been approached for comment.

THIS LIVE BLOG IS NOW CLOSED.

Prince Harry's 'honeymoon period' with Meghan coming to an end for heart-breaking reason

Prince Harry's "honeymoon period" in the US with Meghan Markle has come to an end, according to a royal expert who claimed the Duke is now "sad" and "missing his old life in the UK."

The Sussexes moved to the US in 2020 after their acrimonious exit from the Royal Family.

They have since built a new, more independent, life in the States, living in a luxurious Montecito mansion in California.

Harry and Meghan's life away from the royals has also seen them pursue their own ventures such as Netflix series, podcasts, a memoir, and a new lifestyle brand.

But royal expert Tom Quinn claims Harry is no longer enjoying his new life as much as he once did.

Meghan Markle's return to acting teased as filming starts on new Suits spin-off

Meghan Markle's possible return to Suits has been at the centre of discussions recently, as filming for the legal drama's LA spin-off is well underway.

The Duchess of Sussex starred as Rachel Zane in seven seasons of the hugely successful Netflix show which ran from 2011 to 2019.

But she left in 2018 after getting married to Prince Harry and moving to Britain.

However, as she has now stepped down as a senior working royal, the 42-year-old would be free to rejoin the hit series again, had she wanted to.

Suits: L.A. will focus on a new character called Ted Black, a former New York prosecutor who built an LA law firm that specialises in criminal and entertainment law.

According to IMDB, the new character will be played by Arrow star Stephen Amell, while other notable cast members include the Walking Dead's Josh McDermitt.

The duchess resides with her family in Montecito, California, so she would not have to part with her family, were she to reprise her role as Rachel.

Meghan's appearance has not been officially confirmed, however, her possible return was teased by her former co-star Patrick Adams during this year's Golden Globes.

Mr Adams told Entertainment Tonight: "Sure. Mike and Rachel in Seattle. They gotta come down to LA. they gotta fix some stuff."

The actor added: "If we got the phone call, if I got the phone call, I’m ready to suit up again. I love the show, I love the character. And I loved working with all these people."

Meghan's former co-star also joked about her current status as a member of the Royal Family saying: She’s pretty popular right now. Did you hear about Meghan? I’ll tell you later."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seen as 'sideshow' in US while celeb pals 'drop like flies'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's celebrity friends are said to be 'dropping like flies' as the couple are seen as a 'sideshow' by the American public.

It comes after former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has reportedly become the latest celebrity to have distanced herself from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

According to Closer, the 50-year-old has essentially 'ghosted' Meghan, while ex-England captain husband David was recently spotted meeting King Charles after being appointed ambassador for The King's Foundation.

The two couples were said to have been long-term friends, with Meghan wearing a jumper from Victoria's fashion label for their engagement announcement in 2017, and the British stars attending the Royal Wedding.

According to Closer, Posh and Becks are not the only A-listers to have seemingly turned their backs on the Duke and Duchess in recent months.

Fellow Montecito resident Oprah Winfrey has been promoting Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand, but has not mentioned Meghan's American Riviera Orchard Jam - despite reports suggesting she was one of 50 people to receive a jar.

Former friends Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry are also said to have snubbed Archie's fifth birthday last year, while Amal and George Clooney didn't invite the Sussexes to their Albie Awards.

Former royal butler Paul Burrell now claims US A-listers who were "riding on the moment" when the couple first got married are now turning away from the pair.

He told Closer: "Harry and Meghan's circle is getting smaller and smaller. I think the A-list stars are dropping like flies.

"Americans love the Royal Family, but are starting to understand that they are not part of the Royal Family - they are a side show, not a main event."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'desperation' on Montecito life laid bare

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, show a "desperation to be taken seriously" which involves trying to create important contacts in the USA, a royal podcast host has claimed.

The royal duo now live in a Montecito mansion in California after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.

Talking on Sky News Australia, podcast host Kinsey Schofield said: "They [Harry and Meghan] try to align themselves with people like Governor Gavin Newsom [California's Governor], Stacey Abrams, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former First Lady Hilary Clinton.

"They go out of their way to associate themselves with some of these people."

Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi agreed, stating Prince Harry and Meghan's current position was "a long way from the standing they once had".

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's secret UK home worth £2.5m they had to give up

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in a range of different properties during their eight-year relationship before quitting the Royal Family in 2020 and moving to California, but one secret £2.5m UK home is barely discussed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a two-year lease on a property located in the idyllic Cotswolds, an area of natural beauty in the southwest of the UK, shortly before they walked down the aisle in May 2018.

The Oxfordshire property acted as an interim home base while the couple awaited renovations on Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Estimated to be worth £2.5 million in 2018 the stunning 18th-century Cotswolds Grade II-listed house comprises three primary structures: the main farmhouse, a separate two-bedroom cottage for staff and guests, and a converted barn that boasts not one but two kitchens, one on each of its two floors.

The main farmhouse consists of four bedrooms - one of which had reportedly been converted into a dressing room.

A friend of the couple previously said that Harry and Meghan “loved walking the dogs there and entertaining their friends in complete solitude”.

During their stay, the Sussexes used the property to entertain famous friends.

The couple is thought to have welcomed Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, as well as their friends George and Amal Clooney and Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian.

Harry and Meghan

The Sussexes now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children. (Image: Getty)

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Harry torn apart for 'becoming more like Meghan Markle' with key move

Prince Harry has "worrying echoes" similar to Meghan Markle's behavior within her own family, claims a royal expert.

The comment comes as Prince Harry decided to turn down an invitation to Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Henson's wedding on June 7, despite Hugh being the godfather of Prince Archie.

Diary editor of the Daily Mail, Richard Eden, told Palace Confidential, that Harry wanting to be apart from his friends and family was concerning.

Richard said: "It does have worrying echoes for me of the way that Meghan has become estranged from her own family. You might remember that few members of her family were present at the royal wedding."

He added: "Prince Harry hasn't even met his father-in-law. For me, I do find it slightly disturbing."

Prince Harry and his now-wife, Meghan Markle, announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, and married on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor.Richard said: "Some of his old friends drifted away after he started going out with Meghan. But Hugh the Duke of Westminster didn't.
"He stayed friends and this was shown by the fact he agreed to become godfather to Prince Archie. So the fact that Harry has not come back even for his wedding is very significant."This snub came as a surprise to many as the Duke of Sussex shared a close relationship with the groom, but reportedly chose to stay at home in California with Meghan Markle so attention wasn't detracted from the couple's big day.

Harry and Meghan

Eden said Harry's decision not to attend Grosvenor's wedding was 'significant' (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle 'risks crippling her new lifestyle brand' as she struggles with two things

Meghan Markle risks crippling the success of her new lifestyle brand 'American Riviera Orchard' if she does not focus on two key areas that she finds "really difficult", an expert claims.

Royal author and expert Tom Quinn claims that Meghan is having trouble recruiting staff because she has a "tough outlook" and "absolute self-belief" and these two areas of focus she finds "really difficult" when it comes to managing her staff.

As reported in the Mirror, Tom explained: "The result of Meghan's tough outlook is that she is having difficulties finding staff for her new brand - she wants them to be full of ideas of their own, but also totally compliant to her wishes.

"Meghan has absolute self-belief...But to make her brand a success she needs to take and accept advice and allow staff who know far more about these things to make some of the decisions. This is really difficult for Meghan as she is not a natural delegator."

'American Riviera' is a term thought to refer to Santa Barbara in Los Angeles, as the region is known for its temperate climate and lush landscapes, as well as its robust food and wine culture.

Meghan's Instagram site went live on March 18, with a story teasing the brand's aesthetic, and logo. The Duchess of Sussex has not shared an official launch date yet, but it is thought items sold could include homeware, cookbooks, and jams.

Prince Harry 'unravelling' under pressure as 'concerned Meghan Markle begins detox plan'

Meghan Markle is said to be hoping for a summer of "healing and non-confrontation" for her husband Prince Harry following his recent stressful time, which has included court battles and a hefty workload, as well as his family health news back home.
The Duke of Sussex is said to be "struggling" with being estranged from his family in the UK following King Charles' and Princess Kate's respective cancer news.

Back in February, a form of cancer was found after King Charles underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

At the time, the Palace said the King "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible".A month later, Princess Kate announced in a video message that she also had cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. She has since been having a course of preventative chemotherapy.

Following the King's diagnosis, Harry returned to the UK for a whirlwind visit, which included a brief meeting with his father.

Just under three months later, the Duke came back to the UK again for the Invictus Games in London, but didn't get to see the King as the latter was too busy.

Now back in America, where he lives with Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet, a source has claimed he is struggling.

They told Heat Magazine: "Meghan's proud of how Harry's been handling the stress, but recently he's been starting to unravel.

"He's less able to remove himself from the situation than she is, as he's still clinging onto the hope of a family reconciliation that she feels isn't going to happen. It's much more painful for him because he's not been getting any proper updates on Kate or his dad."

The source added: "It's hard for her to see him climbing the walls the way he's been doing. She wants them to take a break from all the toxicity."

By doing so, the source claims Meghan has called for a "total media detox" for at least a month, and has urged him to "lay low" during the summer so he can heal.

Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for Harry and Meghan for comment.

Eugenie removed from 'royal blacklist' after severing ties with Harry

The daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were known to have remained close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since the couple quit their royal duties and moved to the US in 2020.

Eugenie's friendship with the Montecito couple goes all the way back to 2016 when they all attended a Halloween party in Toronto before news broke that Harry and Meghan were officially an item.

The princess of York even visited the couple at their US home in 2022.

But now it seems the York siblings are distancing themselves from the Sussexes as they were recently spotted at a Buckingham Palace garden party supporting Prince William, despite the ongoing feud.

A royal source told Woman's Day: "Bea and Eugenie can't imagine what William is going through right now, and it was an honour for them to give him some support.

"The York sisters were determined not to let him down."

After the event, Eugenie posted a series of snaps on her Instagram page with the caption: "Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family yesterday to meet some special individuals at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party who have gone above and beyond to support their local communities and the country".

Meanwhile, neither Eugenie nor Beatrice attended Prince Harry's Invictus Games event in May.

Real reason Prince Harry's friends never 'warmed' to Meghan Markle laid bare

Prince Harry's friends never "warmed" to Meghan Markle when they were first introduced at the start of her relationship with the royal, a Palace watcher claims.

In his column for Daily Mail, Richard Eden wrote that Meghan failed to make a good impression when she was first introduced to Harry's friends as "not all of them warmed to the American actress".

Harry's friends reportedly found it very hard to find common ground with the "politically correct America" and couldn't see eye-to-eye with her.

Most recently, Harry was noticeably absent from his friend, the 7th Duke of Westminster's wedding last week.

Mr Eden wrote: "When Prince Harry started introducing new girlfriend Meghan Markle to his closest pals back in 2017, not all of them warmed to the American actress.

"Harry's friends, after all, tend to be country sports enthusiasts with an earthy sense of humour, while Meghan is a politically correct Californian who practises yoga when she's not sipping green smoothies or nibbling avocado on toast."

Meghan Markle has 'major condition for Prince Harry' before she returns to UK

Meghan Markle has one condition that she wants ticked off before she makes a return to the UK, a royal expert claims.

The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly keen for the couple to have a place of their own to stay before considering a return to the UK - as well as the appropriate security.

Speaking to The Mirror, royal expert and author Tom Quinn said: "Meghan has said she’s only prepared to return to England if she and Harry have a place of their own and the security they both feel is essential.

"Meghan will never return to the UK and stay with her husband‘s relatives."

He added: "If the couple manage to find a permanent home and sort out the security issue they will certainly want to bring their children to the UK but it’s going to take a lot of diplomacy to get to the point where Archie and Lili are able to develop a genuine and warm relationship with their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis."

It emerged last year that the couple had been evicted from Frogmore Cottage - which remained their base in the UK after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'contingency plan' revealed

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be "worried sick" about being "kicked out" of their new home country if former president Donald Trump becomes the next US president.

This comes as Trump previously hinted he would possibly revoke the Duke of Sussexes' visa should he win the forthcoming November election.Prince Harry's US visa application is now under review by a judge after he admitted to previous drug use in his highly controversial memoir, Spare.

The Heritage Foundation launched a lawsuit to investigate whether he lied on his visa application when he moved to California with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

US President Joe Biden's lawyers are currently complying with a court order to move the case forward.Speaking to New Idea, a source said: "The Sussexes are worried sick over the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president again - and making good on his vow to kick Prince Harry out of America.

They're putting together a contingency plan that would see them flee the country with their children [Archie and Lilibet] if Trump does return to office."

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Good morning and welcome to our live coverage. Follow this Daily Express live blog here to get all the latest news and scoops on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

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