King Charles Name-Drops Harry and Meghan in Speech, Despite the Duchess Not Being Invited to Join the Family in Scotland

On the first full day of his reign, King Charles III addressed the nation (and the rest of the world, NBD) in a nearly nine-minute speech. In it, the newly anointed king took the time to pay respects to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, comment on what his life will look like moving forward, and give a few shout-outs to members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “I express my love for Prince Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas,” said the King about his youngest son, Prince Harry, and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle in the wake of the news that the duchess was not invited to join the royal family in Scotland.

“It’s understood that the family wanted Prince Harry to be there, even though he was unable to get to Balmoral in time to see his grandmother,” royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed to Entertainment Tonight. “But Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was not, we understand, invited to join the family. She has said she will go to Balmoral another time. But I think it is quite significant that Prince Harry traveled to Balmoral on his own without his wife,” she added. In-ter-est-ing!

The revelation aligns with the fact that Meghan did *not* appear alongside Prince Harry as he made his way to Balmoral Castle following the news of Queen Elizabeth’s hospitalization prior to her passing. Both the duke and duchess were already in London, as they were scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards in the city. However, following the 29-word statement from Buckingham Palace declaring that the Queen’s doctors were “concerned” for her health, Harry and Meghan canceled the appearance and the duke embarked on a plane to Scotland solo.

Sadly, Harry didn’t get to see his grandmother before she passed because his plane landed shortly after the news of the Queen’s death was made public, and the photos of him arriving at the estate—presumably to meet with other family members—are truly devastating.

Other notable things mentioned in King Charles’s speech were the fact that he’s bestowing the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales to his eldest son, Prince William, and William’s wife, Kate Middleton: “With Catherine beside [William], our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given.”

Charles also hinted at what his and Camilla’s new normal as King and Queen Consort will look like, saying, “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others. This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort. I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.”

And he ended the speech with a truly sentimental moment by confessing, “On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support. They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express.” Tear ducts: activated.

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