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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Milica Cosic

Meghan may have stayed away over fears she would not be 'warmly welcomed', expert claims

Meghan Markle may not have travelled to Balmoral with her husband, Prince Harry, over fears that she may not have been "warmly welcomed" by the Royal Family, a royal expert has claimed.

While the Duchess of Sussex is thought to have flown into the UK, she is likely to be staying in the capital.

The BBC 's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell says that she may have decided not to have travelled to Scotland with Harry following the new of the Queen 's ill health, in what has been described as a late "change of plan".

While a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess confirmed yesterday that the couple would be travelling to Scotland together, conflicting reports then emerged in the following hours.

Reports emerged in the hours following the Queen's death that suggesting Meghan would not be going to Balmoral (Getty Images for Invictus Games)
Meghan missed Philip's funeral as she was pregnant with her daughter, Lilibet (Getty Images for Invictus Games)

It is not yet clear what sparked the "change of plan", but one royal expert speculated the reason may be due to fears she "might not be terribly warmly welcomed".

The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said on air: "She might not be terribly warmly welcomed, to be perfectly candid about it."

Sources close to the couple say that she could potentially join Harry in Scotland at a later date.

The Queen's death was confirmed by the Royal Family at 6.30pm yesterday and Prince Harry is believed to have rushed to the royal estate in Scotland shortly after the announcement.

It was announced on Twitter by the Royal Family's official account with a post reading: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

The devastating news came after it was initially stated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they would be travelling to Scotland together following news of The Queen's ill health.

But around 4.30pm, sources close to the couple told journalists that Meghan would not be joining Harry.

It was then later confirmed by Omid Scobie, a journalist who is considered to be "friendly" with the couple, that she wouldn't be in Balmoral.

Amid tensions with some members of the Royal Family since they quit as frontline royals, the couple are 'travelling separately' around the UK (Getty Images for Invictus Games)
Meghan Markle is thought to be staying in London tonight, after deciding not to go to Balmoral with Prince Harry (Getty Images)

Following the news of the longest reigning monarch's passing, Harry and Meghan's Archewell website homepage was blacked out. And across the landing page, it had the words: "In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022."

The grieving Duke will be expected to attend the Queen's funeral, with Meghan also likely to join him.

She missed Philip's funeral in 2021 while heavily pregnant with daughter Princess Lilibet.

Harry and Meghan were not due to see other members of the Royal Family from their visit from California this week.

But ITV News have reported the couple are coordinating plans with other members of the Firm, despite tensions.

They also reported that the couple will be 'travelling separately' from the others.

The last time the Sussexes saw The Queen was in June amid the celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee, when they introduced her to their daughter Lilibet - named in honour of Her Majesty's childhood nickname - for the first time.

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