NEWS
After Kate Middleton makes her brave return to the public spotlight, Prince Harry is said to have been left ‘emotional’ and ‘upset’ by the distance between them
In a show of touching unity, the Royal Family returned to the spotlight last weekend to celebrate Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace.
And this year’s parade also marked another incredibly special occasion – the return of Kate Middleton to public duties after six months amid her battle with cancer. Radiant in white, Kate, 42, was warmly greeted by the thousands of fans who had been desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
But while the King looked overjoyed as he laughed with his much-loved daughter-inlaw, along with Prince William, 42, and their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis – two members of the family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, were still glaringly absent.
Now, following reports that Harry – who last attended the parade in 2022 alongside Meghan – had been holding out for an invitation despite the ongoing feud with his family, a source tells Closer how the estranged royal has been left “upset” and “emotional” over the photos of Kate, who he once called “the sister I never had”.
OUTSIDER
The insider says, “It was painful for Harry to see all his family gathered for Trooping the Colour. He would have dearly loved to have been there, if only to congratulate and support Kate in person on what must have been an incredibly difficult day for her. Harry was particularly upset and emotional when he saw the footage of Kate.
“He’s been so worried about her ever since he received the news of her condition, and while he has managed to connect with her on a few occasions, it’s not nearly as often as he’d like.
“He could see she was putting on a stoic, brave face, but ultimately having the eyes of the world on her was a lot of pressure. The fact he had to watch from 6,000 miles away just made him so sad. It really hammered home how he’s an outsider at this point. He would just love to have her – along with the rest of his family – back in his life properly.”
Harry – who, alongside Meghan, stepped down as a senior working royal in 2020 to lead a new life in California, where the couple now live with their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – last visited the UK in May. But images of him cutting a lonely figure at St Paul’s Cathedral during his 10th anniversary service for the Invictus Games, while his father was “too busy” to see him were a sure sign of his everdeepening rift with the royals, who he last officially made contact with in November to wish Charles a happy birthday. Insiders also repo
