Shawdesh Desk:

King Charles III commemorated turning 75 on Saturday at Trooping the Colour, an annual event that celebrates the British sovereign’s birthday (despite the fact that the monarch was born on Nov. 14). While he was surrounded by many royal family members, his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle were noticeably missing from the big bash—which was reportedly by design.

Royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror that the question of extending an invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was brought up, but immediately shut down.

“There was a brief discussion among the senior royals about inviting Harry and Meghan to Trooping the Colour,” he told the publication. “But the idea was quickly dismissed, because even if the couple accepted the invitation there is a feeling that they cast a dark shadow over everything.”

The Sussexes last attended the ceremony in 2019, just months before they stepped down as senior royals the following January. Tension between Harry and his family has kept him away from royal engagements and Buckingham Palace the past few years; he and Meghan moved to the Suits alumna’s home state of California in June 2020.

Harry last saw Charles in February, a day after his cancer diagnosis was announced. Most recently, Harry declined an invitation to the Duke of Westminster’s wedding due to his estrangement from his brother, Prince William.

Although the Sussexes were no-shows, the Cambridges came in tow—most notably Princess Kate, who made her first public appearance in six months amid her cancer battle. She stepped out with William and their three children, Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 9; and Prince Louis, 6; and put on a sweet, united front on the palace’s balcony.

After a tiresome back and forth over whether she would attend, Kate set the record straight on June 14 with a social media post. She announced she would be present at the birthday parade, but added that she is “not out of the woods yet.”