Royal Family Denies Accusations of Excluding Meghan Markle from Prince Harry’s Birthday Photo

The British royal family shared a photo of Prince Harry celebrating his 4️⃣0️⃣th birthday 📷 Buckingham Palace denied claims that Meghan Markle was intentionally cropped out of the image 🧐🤔 Check out the full story in the article below👇👇

A fresh dispute has arisen concerning the British royal family after a photo of Prince Harry celebrating his 40th birthday was made public. Buckingham Palace has responded to accusations that Meghan Markle was intentionally left out of the image.

The royal family had to justify their choice to share a specific photo of Prince Harry, captured during a visit to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin in 2018, where both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in attendance. While Meghan and Harry were seated next to each other in the original setting, the photo posted for Harry’s birthday tribute featured only him, with no sign of Meghan. This prompted backlash from some quarters, accusing the royal family of deliberately excluding her from the image.

In their official response, Buckingham Palace clarified that the photo used had not been edited or altered in any way. According to them, the picture was shared in the format it was received from the photography agency. Royal officials also explained that various photos were taken during the event, some featuring Harry with Meghan and others without her. Both versions, they pointed out, had been made available on Getty Images, suggesting that no deliberate exclusion had occurred.

Despite the Palace’s explanation, Meghan Markle’s supporters were not convinced. They pointed out that the angles, Harry’s smile, and his hand positioning in the image appeared identical, reinforcing the belief that the photo had been cropped. This moment is particularly important as it marks the first time in three years that the royal family has publicly celebrated Prince Harry’s birthday since he and Meghan opted to step back from their royal responsibilities. Their decision to distance themselves from the monarchy has led to heightened scrutiny and emotional significance surrounding these events.

The recent actions of the palace seem to clash with the protocols established by King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. These guidelines suggest that official social media platforms should exclusively showcase active members of the royal family. Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal responsibilities in 2020, they have been living in the United States with their two children, Archie, who is 5, and Lilibet, who is 3. As a result, they are no longer considered active members of the royal family.