Prince Harry and Meghan received an invitation to the event earlier this week. However, the Sussexes are now not expected to join the gathering of world leaders, foreign dignitaries and royals after some palace officials raised concerns, arguing the event should be restricted to working royals, the Daily Telegraph reported. Sources close to the couple were apparently left confused by the mix-up, according to the report, while palace aides continued to “insist they had not been invited”. The state reception – the night before the Queen’s funeral – is hosted by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla on Sunday. The VIP reception will be attended by more than 500 world leaders, diplomats and members of the royal family, who will also be greeted by William and Kate, the new Prince and Princess of Wales. US and French presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron will be among those attending the event, with both arriving in the UK the day before the Queen’s state funeral on Monday. This is not the first time there has been confusion over the duties of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whose relationship with the wider royal family has been strained by the decision to leave their posts as royal workers move to California. There were reports of similarly mixed messages over Prince Harry’s right to wear military uniform when he walked behind the Queen’s coffin in procession. The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, wore his military medals pinned to his morning suit as he walked in a procession alongside his father, the King, his brother, the Prince of Wales and other royals family. Harry was also forbidden to salute the coffin like his brother and father, and simply bowed his head. But it was revealed on Friday that the king has given Harry permission to wear military uniform for a royal vigil with his cousins at the Queen’s coffin on the evening of Saturday 17 September.
