We unpack whether the Duke of Sussex will be in town for his father’s official birthday, aka Trooping the Colour, which takes place this weekend

Prince Harry delivers a speech during the Kyiv Security Forum on April 23, 2026 © Global Images Ukraine via Getty

On Saturday, we saw the royal family gather together to celebrate the nuptials of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling, and one week on they will gather again for Trooping the Colour, the event which marks the King’s official birthday. We expect to see King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla supported by senior royals like Prince William and Princess Kate and Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, but will Prince Harry be making an appearance?

At present, it is believed that Harry will not be jetting in from Montecito for the occasion. Since stepping down from his position as a senior royal, the Duke has missed multiple royal events, such as state banquets, commonwealth celebrations and the iconic Christmas Day church appearance.

King Charles is close to his grandchildren© Getty Images
Trooping the Colour last year, Harry was absent

However, he is expected to travel to the UK next month, but not for a royal occasion. The Prince’s Invictus Games are coming to Birmingham 10 – 17 July, and the Duke is likely to make an appearance and a speech, as he usually does. The last games were held in Canada, where he stepped out alongside his wife Meghan. It is yet to be seen if Meghan will make the trip to the UK with her husband.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada. Picture date: Monday February 10, 2025.© PA Images via Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada. Picture date: Monday February 10, 2025.

Why is Trooping the Colour always held in June?

The monarch’s official birthday is always marked in June with the Trooping the Colour event. The reason behind this decision is believed to be to maximise the chances of good weather. A lot of the ceremony is outside with a carriage procession and spectacular flypast with the royal family waving from the balcony.

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Philip passes away in 2021© WireImage
The royals try and guarantee the weather by hosting it in June

When did Prince Harry last attend Trooping the Colour?

The last time Prince Harry was pictured at Trooping the Colour was 2022, when he and his wife Meghan Markle watched from a side window at Buckingham Palace. In 2019, they made a more prominent appearance, proudly standing on the balcony together. It was just weeks after their son, Prince Archie was born. The year before, they celebrated on the balcony as newlyweds.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive at Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)© Getty Images
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive at Trooping The Colour, the Queen’s annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Will Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice be at Trooping the Colour?

When Eugenie and Beatrice were culled from the royal Easter service, King Charles’ team were keen to ensure that the sisters were not fully banished from the family, like their disgraced father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.  HELLO! understands that they are very much part of the family and will be seen at future family celebrations – so could Trooping the Colour be their big comeback?