Prince Harry has not attended Trooping the Colour since 2019, and a new poll asks whether he should make a return to the event this year. The Duke of Sussex last participated in the annual celebration just weeks after the birth of his son, Prince Archie.
What is Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour is a historic event held annually to mark the monarch's official birthday. This year, the King and Queen will be joined by working royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony following a procession. The event is one of the highlights of the royal calendar.
Harry's absence
Since stepping down as a senior royal and moving to California, Prince Harry has not attended Trooping the Colour. He and Meghan Markle now live in the US with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Meghan made her debut at the event in 2018, shortly after marrying Harry.
The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2022, with the late Queen making her last appearance just months before her death. King Charles held his first Trooping the Colour as monarch in 2023, with a slimmed-down monarchy.
Who will attend this year?
This weekend, the King will be joined by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children. Other royals expected to attend include Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Kent.
Should Prince Harry be invited back? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts.
