Monarchy may wear many crowns, but few shine as brightly as tradition. And when it comes to regal rituals, Trooping the Colour is one of the most photographed, scrutinized, and Instagrammed affairs of the Windsor calendar. But as Union Jacks wave and Red Arrows streak across the sky, one question quietly lingers behind all the pomp: Where are Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet?
While the royal balcony has welcomed generations of heirs in military blues, its silence on Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet speaks volumes about bloodlines and boundaries.
The royal roster rolls on, but the Sussex kids stay missing
Each year, the monarchy steps into formation, polished boots and perfect waves all accounted for. Yet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet remain absent from Trooping the Colour. Their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have become balcony regulars, while the Sussex children’s debut is stalled by something simple: no invite.
Even in 2022, Prince Harry
and Meghan Markle
attended in a limited capacity, watching quietly from behind the palace’s public-facing pageantry.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, the Princess of Wales during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London 📸 @aaronchown pic.twitter.com/sSPHAtZcPJ
— Derek Momodu (@DelMody) June 14, 2025
The Trooping balcony is more than just a photo op. It is a declaration of continuity, loyalty, and royal alignment. But with King Charles III now at the helm, the division between the core monarchy and the Montecito chapter has only deepened. No invites were sent to the Sussexes for the last three years
, signaling that the rift is not merely personal; it is official. The color may be trooped, but the unity seems AWOL.
While balcony optics spotlight royal unity, behind the scenes, logistics, life events, and lingering security concerns tell a far more complicated tale of royal retreat.
From birthdays to borderlines, how timing and turmoil kept them away
Prince Archie was barely crawling when the 2019 parade marched on, and Princess Lilibet had not even arrived. By the time she did, the Sussexes had left royal duties behind. Throw in a global pandemic and Prince Harry’s ongoing battle for proper family security, and their absence starts to feel less like a snub and more like a strategy. “I cannot put my wife in danger like that
,” Prince Harry said, according to ITV, emphasizing that without formal protection, any return to London remains firmly off the royal table.
Prince Harry has said he and Meghan Markle may never return to the UK.
What’s your reaction? pic.twitter.com/dmiquUF8PE
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 3, 2025
Underneath the military drums and ceremonial salutes lies a quieter truth, a royal bond splintered by distance, decisions, and decades of tension. Prince Harry has spoken of wanting his children to know their roots. Yet, their absence from traditions like Trooping the Colour paints a picture of a royal future rewritten. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet may carry royal titles, but they are growing up in a world where the crown is more history than home.
Read More: Meghan Markle Feels ‘Unwanted’ by the UK as Prince Harry Plans His Return to the Royal Land
What are your thoughts on Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s royal absence? Let us know in the comments below.