Royal rift 'couldn't be wider' after Sussexes 'row over Charles' birthday'

08 November 2023 , 13:27

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King Charles opened Parliament this week (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Sussexes have faced backlash for speaking about rumours surrounding King Charles' birthday on the same day he made the "historic" King's Speech in Parliament.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been called out for their "inappropriate timing" after they claimed Buckingham Palace had failed to contact them about the monarch's 75th birthday celebration. A spokesperson for the couple is said to have made the remarks just hours before the monarch held the State Opening of Parliament in the first King's Speech in over 70 years.

The spokesperson made the comments in response to an article by the Sunday Times which featured claims that Harry had turned down a birthday invite from his father next week. Which they have disputed.

This is the first time a king has opened parliament since 1950 (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan said they haven't recieved an invitation (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the rift in the Royal Family "couldn't be wider", reports Mail Online. Speaking about the State Opening, he said: "When he opened Parliament today, King Charles paid tribute to the late Queen. It was a historic occasion, the first time a king had opened Parliament since 1950. George V1 was ill in 1951. The very same day, with particularly inappropriate timing, the Sussexes are back in the news.

They deny a report in the Sunday Times that they turned down an invitation to the King's 75th birthday. Harry, an insider tells us, will reach out to his father privately." He added: "The rift in the royal family could not be wider and bemused courtiers must be wondering what comes next. Let us hope that the reported four book deal with Random House does not lead to another memoir."

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A friend of the couple is said to have implied that the Palace could have leaked the invitation story to distract people from the recent royal visit in Kenya. However, critics said the tour had been "extremely successful". A source close to Harry and Meghan said the couple "were unaware of any celebrations until the stories came out."

A spokesperson for the Sussexes told MailOnline: "There has been no contact regarding an invitation to His Majesty's upcoming birthday. It is disappointing the Sunday Times has misreported this story." The Mirror has contacted representatives for Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes.

Monica Charsley