Meghan Markle, Prince Harry not returning to UK for Princess Diana celebration

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, left, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex speak at Global Citizen Live in Central Park in New York, in September. Photo/AP

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be attending a major celebration for Princess Diana in the UK.

Despite reports suggesting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were planning to go to the party honouring Diana at Kensington Palace next week, a spokesperson for the royals has confirmed to The Telegraph they will remain in the US.

It was thought Harry, 37, would have wanted to attend the event, which was initially supposed to be held in July as a reception after the unveiling of Diana's 60th birthday statue, but was ultimately delayed due to Covid restrictions.

More than 100 guests are expected to attend the soiree at Kensington Palace next Tuesday, local time, including Sir Elton John and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Adding more insult to injury, travel restrictions to the UK have since lifted, meaning the Sussexes would have been able to skip home quarantine.

Harry did attend the July unveiling with his older brother, Prince William, as the pair were all smiles in a joyous reunion that melted hearts around the world.

Meghan, 40, remained in the US after giving birth to her second child, daughter Lilibet Diana, in June.

It appears the pair have no real plans to head back to Britain, with reports emerging they will have Lilibet's christening at the Episcopal Church in California.

It was initially thought they would stick to tradition and christen Lilibet at Windsor Castle in front of the Queen, which is what Meghan and Harry did with their first child, son Archie, now 2.

The Queen, whom Lilibet is named after, is still yet to meet her granddaughter.

Meghan has not been in the UK since the duo's final official royal engagement at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, before they stepped down as senior members and moved to the US.

Harry however has returned twice this year, firstly for Prince Philip's funeral in April and again for the statue unveiling in July.