Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been ‘uninvited’ to a state reception hosted by King Charles on Sunday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have received an invitation earlier this week to the big event at Buckingham Palace.
The gathering, which will see foreign VIPs gather on the eve of Her Majesty’s funeral, will be the largest of world leaders in modern history.
But palace officials have insisted it is only for working royals, with aides insisting Meghan, 41, and Harry, 37, will not attend, The Telegraph reports.
More than 500 heads of state and dignitaries have been invited to the VIP reception organized by King Charles III.
The dress code for the event, which will be held in the Palace’s Picture Gallery and State Rooms, is ball gowns in line with the royal family’s official period of mourning.
A spokesman for the king said: “This is one of the last moments for Her Majesty the Queen as opposed to the first for Her Majesty.”
The confusion over whether the Sussexes will be there echoes that which surrounded Harry’s uniform ban earlier this week.
It was initially understood that Harry would be banned from wearing his military colors at a vigil held by the Queen’s grandchildren on Saturday.
But in a move later said to be “unique”, the Duke was given special permission to wear it during the 15-minute reflection period at Westminster Hall, with Prince Andrew also wearing military gear despite he was stripped of his RHS titles. .
Meanwhile, Meghan and Harry will travel separately to the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
King Charles will once again lead his family to march behind Her Majesty’s coffin as it moves from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.
Behind him and his siblings will be the Queen’s grandsons Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales in a show of unity.
Meghan and Sophie, Countess of Wessex will follow in a car behind.
World leaders will arrive in London this weekend and are expected to pay their own respects to Queen Elizabeth with visits to Westminster Hall, where she lies in state.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, China’s Vice President Wang Qishan, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected.
Meanwhile, dozens of foreign royals, including Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Felipe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, will be among the 2,000 mourners in Westminster Abbey.
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
This story originally appeared in The Sun and is reproduced with permission