The couple received an official invitation to the event for world leaders and foreign royalty early last week and had no reason to believe they weren’t expected to go. However, palace aides later said only working members of the royal family would attend, causing considerable confusion. Sussex residents are said to have been told on Friday night that there had been a mix-up and that they were not in fact invited to what has been described as an “official state event”. Whether or not the message was received was debatable. However, the couple is not expected to attend.
Personal relationships always low
A mistake is believed to have been made when invitations were sent to the original list of royals workers drawn up as part of plans made before the Queen’s death, before the Sussexes moved to the US. Now that the landscape has changed, the prospect of the couple standing shoulder to shoulder with the King, Queen Consort and Prince and Princess of Wales as they welcomed heads of state from around the world seemed, to some, unthinkable. While all members of the royal family have been determined to join a united front during the mourning period in honor of the late queen, personal relations are understood to be at an all-time low. The reception at the palace is a formal occasion for all the presidents and prime ministers, foreign royals, governors-general and ambassadors who have traveled to London for the funeral on Monday. Guests include ambassadors from North Korea and Iran as well as Japan’s Empress Masako, who will accompany Emperor Naruhito despite being largely withdrawn from public view two decades ago. They will be ushered through the gates of Buckingham Palace in the early evening and greeted by the King and Queen consort before mingling through the picture gallery and state apartments. Despite the grandeur of their surroundings, the hour-long reception will be a hushed affair, with guests asked to wear lounge suits or morning dress, with no hats or decorations. Drinks and canapés will be served. On Saturday night, Prince Harry joined his brother and seven cousins for a somber vigil at his grandmother’s coffin at Westminster Hall.
