Prince Harry Won’t Attend the Duchess of Kent’s Funeral — But It's Not to Avoid William
Prince Harry concluded a busy four-day trip to the UK on September 11, which saw him also reunite with King Charles. While Charles is set to attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on September 16, Harry will be a no-show at the memorial. Royal expert Danielle Stacey explained that the Duke of Sussex is skipping the service to return to California and ring in his 41st birthday with Meghan Markle and their two children. It was speculated that Harry might bury the hatchet with Prince William, too, at the service, just as he did with Charles, but it looks like royal fans would have to wait.
Speaking to HELLO!, Stacey explained, "With his UK and Ukraine trip combined, Prince Harry will have spent quite a bit of time away from Meghan and their children, so no doubt, he will want to get back to California to be reunited with his family – and in time for his 41st birthday on Monday." The Prince has, too, previously opened up about long trips and being away from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. For Queen Elizabeth’s 2022 funeral, Harry was in the UK for 17 long days. He wrote in his memoir, "Our quick trip would now be an odyssey. Another ten days, at least... More, we'd have to be away from the children for longer than we'd planned, longer than we'd ever been."
The news of his absence from the funeral is a disappointment for royal observers who were still celebrating Harry's meeting with Charles for private tea. It was speculated that Harry would surely attend the funeral as the late Duchess and his mother, Princess Diana, had shared a sisterly bond. The Duchess of Kent will have a Catholic funeral at Westminster Cathedral, following her conversion to the religion in 1944. Senior royals like Charles, Queen Camilla, William, and Kate Middleton are expected to attend, and members of the royal family will dress in black to honor her during the mourning period. Her coffin will rest overnight in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary before the requiem mass.
The Palace, in its statement, announced, "The Requiem Mass will be conducted by The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, with additional participation by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, and the Dean of Windsor. Following the Mass, the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor." On the eve of the Duchess's funeral, the royal hearse will transport her coffin from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral for a private service. The hearse will be preceded by a piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards, to honor Duchess Katherine’s role as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief. Her immediate family will be in attendance at the private vigil, including Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.
Meanwhile, royal watchers got an idea about Harry’s whereabouts when Markle posted a photo on September 14 about his return to the US. She cheekily captioned the post, "When your beau is back in town…" with two wine glasses, confirming that the Duke had returned to California.