Meghan Markle did not appear next to Prince Harry at the Invictus Games countdown event in Birmingham because it would have been detrimental to her brand, according to royal author Robert Jobson. The Duchess of Sussex was absent from the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games at the National Exhibition Centre on July 10, 2026, after a decision by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee not to provide taxpayer-funded security for the Sussexes during their UK visit.
Harry's Legal Defeat and Solitary Figure
In the same week, Prince Harry lost a High Court legal battle against Associated Newspapers Ltd over unproven allegations of unlawful information gathering. Bronte Coy, senior entertainment reporter at news.com.au, told The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast that Harry appeared "so rattled" on stage in Birmingham, knowing he had lost the case. She said: "It would have been a good opportunity for [Meghan] to be there with him as that was happening. He cut a very solitary figure in the middle of all this drama unfolding."
Jobson's Criticism of Meghan's Absence
Jobson responded to Coy's comments by stating: "She never does. She never supports, like it's not good for her brand being next to someone who's just lost." Coy agreed, adding: "But as a husband and wife, I was thinking it would have been nice for her [to be there]." Despite this, Meghan has appeared by Harry's side at multiple events, including the Invictus Games and other occasions. Recently, the couple visited Australia to meet survivors of the Bondi Beach attack and the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
Family Meeting at Highgrove
The Sussexes' trip to Britain also included a private meeting between King Charles, Queen Camilla, Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet at Highgrove House, confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Friday evening. Jobson highlighted Queen Camilla's attendance as significant, noting that despite Harry's criticism of her in his memoir, Spare, she turned up to support the King. He added: "She was also there to witness what was said... because, you know, Meghan and Harry have got a tendency to try and get their own way and what they need."
Camilla's Role in Protecting the King
Jobson claimed: "With Camilla there it would have been very difficult for them to push the King - [who is] a very kind, gentle man - into a corner... She was there to protect the King." He also suggested that the focus on Archie and Lilibet made the meeting easier, as certain family squabbles remained unspoken.
