In a striking display of absence, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have retreated from the public eye during a significant royal event at Windsor Castle featuring President Donald Trump and Melania Trump on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
According to the Daily Mail, while a high-profile State banquet unfolded at Windsor Castle, Harry and Meghan chose to maintain a low profile over 5,000 miles away in Montecito, California, sparking speculation about whether this was a deliberate move to avoid conflict or a possible snub.
The couple's silence this week stands in stark contrast to their usual pattern of engaging in events that often coincide with major royal moments. Typically, Harry and Meghan have been known to make headlines during significant royal occasions, but this time, they have refrained from any such actions. Based in Montecito, California, the Sussexes have not been spotted at their usual local haunts, including Pierre La Fond delicatessen, Lucky’s Steakhouse, Wendy Foster boutique, or Miramar Beach, according to a recent visit by the Daily Mail.
There has been no sighting of the couple in the area for days, even after Harry’s return from a recent high-profile trip to London. Meghan, who recently drew attention for the Season 2 launch of her Netflix project, has limited her social media activity to a single Instagram post celebrating Harry’s 41st birthday on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the royal family hosted President Trump and Melania at a grand State banquet at Windsor Castle, an event steeped in ceremonial tradition.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, told The Daily Mail, "I'd be surprised if the Sussexes do anything this week that might annoy." He further noted, "If the Sussexes made a move that distracted us, as they have from time to time when there been important royal events, it would be not only be outrageous, but it would draw Trump's eye." Fitzwilliams also praised the grandeur of the event, saying, "The British put on such a ceremonial show. I mean I've been watching this. It is amazing and it's intentionally amazing and intentionally designed to impress President Trump."
The backdrop to the Sussexes’ absence includes a history of friction with Trump, dating back to 2016 when Meghan, then an actress on the show "Suits," labeled him as misogynistic and divisive on a talk show while endorsing Hillary Clinton. In 2019, ahead of a state visit to the UK, Trump referred to Meghan’s comments about him as harsh, later clarifying, "I wasn't referring to her as 'she's nasty' - I said she was nasty about me." He added, "Essentially, I didn't know she was nasty about me. So, I said, but you know what, she's doing a good job, I hope she enjoys her life."
During that 2019 visit, Harry took part in hosting duties, but Meghan did not attend, citing the recent birth of their son, Prince Archie, who is now six years old. In 2020, Trump expressed his disapproval, stating, "I'm not a fan of hers," regarding Meghan, and added about Harry, "A lot of luck, because he's going to need it." That same year, while living in California, Harry and Meghan hinted at support for President Joe Biden during the election, with Harry cautioning against hate speech and misinformation online.
During the Biden administration’s tenure, tensions with Trump seemed to ease, but issues resurfaced in 2024 when Harry’s admissions of past drug use in his memoir "Spare" led to scrutiny over his U.S. visa application. The Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information request to determine if Harry had disclosed his drug use during immigration processes.
In February 2025, when asked if he would deport Harry over potential visa discrepancies, Trump responded, "I don't want to do that. I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible."
Fitzwilliams commented on Trump’s stance, telling the Daily Mail, "The reason President Trump wants to leave Harry alone, of course, is that he doesn't want any glitches with King Charles because can you just imagine what would happen if they tried to throw him out."
He elaborated, "He would contest it in court and this would be a member of the British Royal Family involved in court case in America and it would harm Trump's links with the royals because it's the last thing King Charles would want." Fitzwilliams also noted, "I shouldn't think William would want that either. I mean they might be landed with him back there."
At the recent Windsor dinner, Trump acknowledged Prince William in his speech but made no mention of Harry, further highlighting the Sussexes’ absence from the narrative. Meghan, in a recent Bloomberg interview, sidestepped questions about Trump despite being prompted multiple times, a move Fitzwilliams described as sensible, saying, "Meghan, she actually showed sense in not answering political questions." Harry, meanwhile, spoke to The Guardian last weekend during a successful trip to Ukraine, asserting that he regretted nothing, a statement Fitzwilliams called "utterly weird" given the timing.
Fitzwilliams speculated on the couple’s current strategy, telling the Daily Mail, "I really, really think it's very unlikely they would say or do anything [this week]." He added, "This is a decision that would be taken because Harry knows serious national issues are being discussed." The Sussexes’ decision to remain out of the spotlight during this pivotal royal event continues to fuel discussions about their relationship with both the royal family and figures like Trump.
Adding to the complexity of their dynamic with U.S. leaders, in 2022, Harry and Meghan requested a ride home with Joe Biden on Air Force One after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, but were denied. Now, as the royal family engages with Trump at Windsor Castle, the Sussexes’ absence remains a point of intrigue. Whether their low profile is a strategic choice or the result of exclusion, the contrast between Montecito’s quiet streets and Windsor’s ceremonial splendor underscores the ongoing narrative surrounding Harry and Meghan’s place in royal affairs.