5 Royals Not Invited to Royal Ascot This Year Amid Monarchy Shake-Up

One of the UK’s most prestigious sporting traditions is just around the corner, and the Royal Family is gearing up to attend. Royal Ascot—held annually in Berkshire since its founding by Queen Anne in 1711—blends elite horse racing with centuries of royal heritage. While fans can still look forward to the traditional carriage procession featuring King Charles, Prince Edward, Prince William, Princess Kate, and more, this year comes with a twist: a few prominent royal faces will be noticeably absent from the crowd.

The most notable absence this year will, of course, be the disgraced former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former Duke of York has largely stepped away from public royal events in recent years due to his scandalous ties to Jeffrey Epstein and now lives a life far from media attention. While he was once a fixture at major royal gatherings, his public appearances have become exceedingly rare. Given ongoing public scrutiny, he continues to avoid high-profile events that draw intense media coverage.

Sarah Ferguson is another notable absence from this year’s celebrations. Like Andrew, her past ties to Epstein drew intense public scrutiny, altering her relationship with official royal events. While Ferguson had managed to maintain a casual presence at family gatherings post-divorce, the scandal changed the landscape completely—meaning she won't be joining the official lineup at Ascot this year.

Prince Harry is another royal who will not be attending. Since stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020 and moving to California, Harry has rarely attended royal events in the UK. His relationship with the royal family has remained strained in recent years, making an appearance at Royal Ascot highly unlikely. The Duke of Sussex has not been a part of the royal procession since relocating to the United States, and this year will be no different.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is also expected to miss the event. She has attended Royal Ascot only once—in 2018, shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry—and has not returned since the couple stepped back from their official roles. Now residing in California, the Duchess has distanced herself from royal duties to focus on her family and several business ventures.

Last on the list are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are also among the royals who are not expected to attend this year's Royal Ascot. Although the sisters occasionally appear at royal occasions, their most recent being at Peter Phillips' wedding, they will not be present at Ascot. Since their parents' scandal, the York sisters have maintained a safe distance from publicized royal events, and this time will be no different.