Meghan Markle may not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, according to a royal expert who spoke to Fox News Digital. Former British public relations officer Shannon Felton Spence explained that Markle and Prince Harry were already traveling in Europe when the monarch died on Thursday, but she could decide to return home to California before the funeral to be with the two young ones their children, Archie, 3 years old; , and Lilibet, 1. “Harry will probably stay in the UK until the funeral. I can’t imagine Meghan not attending, but then again in human terms, Meghan expected to leave the children for six days, not weeks, so [it] it may not be possible for him to stay the whole time,” Spence said. Meghan Markle may not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, according to a royal expert who spoke to Fox News Digital. (NDZ/Star Max/GC Images) Prince Harry and Markle, who married in 2018, live in Montecito, California with their children. They moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family, a move that led to a rift within the royal family. MEGHAN MARKLE’S ABSENCE IN SCOTLAND MORE LIKELY THAN KATE MIDDLETON’S DECISION TO STAY BEHIND, EXPERT SAYS The couple were due to attend the WellChild Awards in London on Thursday night. Prince Harry was due to give a speech at the event for the charity, which provides help to seriously ill children and their families. However, the Duke of Sussex rushed to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be with the royal family after doctors became concerned about the Queen’s health. Arrived at Aberdeen Airport at 6:46pm. GMT, 16 minutes after the royal family announced her death at 6:30 p.m., according to flight tracking data. Prince Harry’s older brother Prince William, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, and Prince Andrew flew together to Scotland on a Royal Air Force jet earlier in the day, arriving at 4pm. Prince Harry was photographed in a car as he arrived at Balmoral Castle just before 8pm He was pictured at the airport on Friday morning on his way back to London. He made the trip alone with Markle staying behind in London. Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton did not travel to Balmoral to be with her children Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, on their first day at school. Meghan Markle could decide to return to California to be with her and Prince Harry’s two young children, Archie, 3, and Lilybet, 1. (Getty) Along with many others, Spence said she believed the fact that family members took separate flights to Balmoral was indicative of the ongoing tension between Prince Harry and Meghan and other members of the royal family. “I think it means that Harry was in a different car, so visually – Harry arriving and leaving on his own – it tells you what the relationship and tone was between the families,” he said. Spence added that he also said Prince Harry was the first to leave. What’s more, the two brothers live about half a mile apart in Windsor, while Prince Andrew also lives nearby, so it was notable that they flew separately. Royal expert Eloise Parker told Fox New Digital: “The family will be keen to downplay the ‘feud’ narrative given its most pressing new issues, looking at the Queen’s massive death and the intense scrutiny King Charles has faced . settling into his new role.” “Meghan expected to leave the children for six days, not weeks,” a royal expert told Fox News Digital about the prospect of Meghan Markle attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. (Matt Cardy) She continued, “It’s clear that both Harry and William are deeply committed to very different kinds of lives and priorities at the moment. There was definitely a sense of alienation, particularly given that he and William had historically been such a close unit. a decade ago, they would almost certainly have arrived or left together.” The royal expert said that with the Queen’s death and King Charles III’s ascension to the throne, Prince William “will now have an even greater royal responsibility as Prince of Wales and direct heir to the throne”. Parker added, “He’s always kept a small, loyal circle around himself and Catherine. It’s hard to see how Harry, living over six thousand miles away and on a very different career path, could be a key part of this cycle and vice versa.” In his first address to the nation as monarch, King Charles confirmed that Prince William would succeed him when he dies, and had given his eldest son his previous title, Prince of Wales. In his first speech as monarch, King Charles also appeared to have offered an olive branch to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid division in the royal family. (Getty Images) In the speech, King Charles also appeared to offer an olive branch to Prince Harry and Markle amid division in the royal family. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RECREATION NEWSLETTER “King Charles has gone out of his way to express his ‘love for Harry and Meghan as they build their lives abroad.’ It was a touching way for him to acknowledge his acceptance of his son’s new life path while making clear his continued support as a father,” Parker said. She continued, “Charles’ warm comments paved the way for Harry and Meghan to attend the funeral. I expect they will be there, but there is no expectation that their very young children will attend.” Spence said she believed Prince William and Middleton’s children had not yet met Lilibet, but they did meet Archie before the Sussexes moved to the US. Parker added, “The undoubted shock and hurt felt by the royal family at Harry and Meghan’s departure from the scorched earth has undoubtedly been overshadowed by this extraordinary time of grief and change. “They will always be family, but the distance, geographical and emotional, between siblings seems at this point to be the accepted status quo.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ashley Hume is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @ashleyhume
