Prince Harry is not expected to attend this year’s celebration
Prince Harry is not expected to travel from Montecito, California, to the United Kingdom for Trooping the Colour, the annual event that marks King Charles’ official birthday. The celebration will take place on June 14, 2026, and is expected to bring together several members of the royal family, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince Edward, and Duchess Sophie. The royal family recently gathered for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding on June 6, 2026, an event Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to join.
Since stepping back from royal life in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have rarely attended major royal events. He has skipped several state occasions and family appearances over the past few years, including Christmas celebrations and other public royal gatherings. His last appearance at Trooping the Colour was in 2022, when he and Meghan Markle watched the ceremony from a side area at Buckingham Palace rather than appearing on the main balcony.
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The Duke is expected to return for the Invictus Games
Even though the father of two is not expected to attend Trooping the Colour, he is likely to visit the United Kingdom later this summer. The 2026 Invictus Games will take place in Birmingham from July 10, 2026, to July 17, 2026, and Prince Harry is expected to attend as the founder of the event. He traditionally delivers speeches and interacts with participating athletes during the competition.
The most recent Invictus Games were held in Canada, which he attended alongside Meghan Markle. However, it remains unclear whether his wife will join him for his trip to Birmingham for the upcoming Invictus Games. More details about the couple’s plans are expected closer to the opening ceremony.
Trooping the Colour remains a major royal tradition
Trooping the Colour has been used for generations to celebrate the monarch’s official birthday. Although King Charles was born on November 14, the event is traditionally carried out in June because warmer weather provides better conditions for the outdoor military parade and flypast.
The ceremony typically includes a procession through central London, appearances by senior royals, and a Royal Air Force flypast viewed from Buckingham Palace. The last time Prince Harry had a prominent role at the event was in 2019, shortly after his son, Prince Archie, was born. In 2018, he also appeared on the palace balcony with Meghan Markle following their wedding in May of that year.
