William and Kate Set for Historic US Visit — but There May Be One Problem With the Guest List
America’s 250th birthday in July 2026 will be a spectacle that is already stirring global curiosity. All the more because Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly invited, and set to travel to the US for events tied to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But in between the lines, the not-so-surprising question that has made a comeback is whether the estranged brothers will finally have a reunion, or will the Sussexes be shut out?
According to Page Six, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to be in the States to mark the 1776 milestone, a moment being framed as a “huge year for both the US and the UK.” Given that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now settled in California, geographically closer than ever to William, speculation about a possible crossover has naturally followed. But the insider also noted that any reunion is far from automatic, stating, “Obviously, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aren’t working royals, so they will not be invited to any celebrations. Any invitation would have to come at the behest of the royal family themselves.”
The irony cannot be ignored here. While the Waleses are set to travel thousands of miles to take part in the American milestone, Harry and Markle, who relocated to the US in search of independence, are likely to remain on the outside of the most high-profile celebrations of all. Complicating matters further is the political undertone. Donald Trump’s long-standing and very public dislike for the Sussexes may also weigh into the options of who is welcomed, and who is kept at arm’s length.
The Sussexes’ uneasy equation with the US President stretches back years, much before their dramatic exit from royal life. But most recently, tensions only deepened after a particularly intended moment at the recent state dinner, when the President used his toast to single out William for praise, referring to him as Charles’s 'remarkable son,' while leaving Harry conspicuously unmentioned. Adding to the sting, William reportedly made time to meet Trump during the visit, but did not meet Harry in the same period, a choice that insiders say did not go unnoticed by the Duke.
Rob Shuter, citing California-based sources on his Substack, wrote that the moment landed hard with the Sussexes. “So when Trump praised William as Charles’s ‘remarkable son’ during his state dinner toast — leaving Harry out — the Sussexes took it as a fresh slap.” Another source also said something along the same lines. “It was a dig, no question. Watching the family laugh along felt like betrayal.” Harry's friend reportedly had said, “Harry and Meghan won’t forget this night — or the message it sent.”
And this was far from the first clash between the Sussexes and the unfiltered rude politician. Meghan Markle was previously dismissed as 'nasty,' while Harry was turned into a label and called whipped.' At one point, the Duke was even nearly threatened with being thrown out of the US under shifting immigration rhetoric. Against that backdrop, it seems very unlikely that they will receive an invitation to the pageantry in July.