Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from the Royal Family in January 2020 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Meghan Markle’s Easter Absence: A Pregnant Pause or Timely Snub?

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has long been a polarizing figure, and her absence from the Royal Family’s Easter Sunday service in 2019 is no exception. While some see her no-show as a deliberate snub, the truth behind her decision paints a more nuanced picture—one tied to personal circumstances and the complexities of royal life. As Prince Harry and Meghan navigate their post-royal journey, the 2019 Easter absence remains a moment that encapsulates the tensions and choices that defined their time within the monarchy. This article delves into the reasons behind Meghan’s absence, the context of her and Harry’s royal exit, and the lasting implications for their relationship with the Royal Family.

Prince Archie was born in May 2019 – just weeks after Easter ( Image: (Image: GETTY))

The 2019 Easter Absence: A Pregnant Pause

In April 2019, the Royal Family gathered at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor for the annual Easter Sunday service, a high-profile event attended by senior royals, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, and Kate Middleton (then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). Prince Harry, then 34, was present, walking alongside his cousin Zara Tindall and other family members. However, Meghan, heavily pregnant with the couple’s first child, was conspicuously absent.

The reason for her absence was straightforward: Meghan was in the final weeks of her pregnancy with Prince Archie, who was born on May 6, 2019, just three weeks after the service. At the time, Meghan, then 37, was prioritizing her health and preparing for motherhood, a decision that royal insiders described as prudent given the physical demands of public appearances. A source close to the couple told HELLO! magazine that Meghan’s absence was purely practical, noting that the late stage of her pregnancy made attending the service inadvisable.

Yet, the absence fueled speculation and criticism, particularly in the British tabloids. The Sun reported at the time that some royal watchers viewed Meghan’s no-show as a sign of her disengagement from royal duties, with one anonymous source claiming it was “another example of Meghan doing things her way.” Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with one user writing, “Meghan skipping Easter 2019 was the start of her pulling away from the royals—pregnancy or not.” For a public already divided over the Duchess, her absence became a lightning rod for debate.

The 2018 Easter Precedent: A Private Celebration

Meghan’s 2019 absence wasn’t her first time missing the Easter service. In 2018, just weeks before her May wedding to Harry, both she and the Duke skipped the event. According to HELLO!, the couple opted for a private celebration, as the Easter service is considered optional for royals. The decision was framed as a desire to step back from the intense public scrutiny surrounding their engagement, which had been announced in November 2017 after the couple began dating in 2016.

The 2018 absence was less controversial, as Meghan had not yet officially joined the Royal Family. However, it set a precedent for the couple’s preference for privacy—a theme that would define their later decisions. On X, some users have reflected on this moment, with one post from April 2023 noting, “Harry and Meghan skipping Easter in 2018 was sweet—they wanted a quiet moment before the wedding madness. Why can’t people respect that?”

The Royal Exit and Its Context

The 2019 Easter service marked one of Harry and Meghan’s final appearances as working royals. Less than a year later, in January 2020, the couple announced their decision to step back from senior royal duties, citing a desire for financial independence and a more private life. They relocated to California, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

The lead-up to their exit was fraught with tension. Meghan’s struggles with mental health, which she later detailed in her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, were exacerbated by relentless media scrutiny and what she described as a lack of institutional support from the palace. Harry, in his memoir Spare, wrote of a “poisoned” atmosphere within Kensington Palace in 2018 and 2019, where staff tensions and media leaks created a challenging environment.

Meghan’s pregnancy added another layer of complexity. The couple’s decision to shield Archie from public view—breaking with the tradition of immediate post-birth photocalls—drew criticism from outlets like The Sun, which called it “secretive.” Posts on X from May 2019 reflected the divide, with one user writing, “Meghan and Harry owe the public nothing—protecting their baby comes first,” while another argued, “She’s a royal now; she can’t just hide away.”

The Easter Service in Context: A Royal Tradition

The Easter Sunday service at St. George’s Chapel is a significant event in the royal calendar, symbolizing unity and faith. While attendance is not mandatory, it is a rare opportunity for the public to see the royals together, making absences notable. In 2019, Queen Elizabeth II, then 92, led the family, joined by Prince William, Kate, and others. The absence of Meghan, a prominent new member, stood out, especially given her high-profile wedding less than a year earlier.

The service was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, resuming in 2022. Harry and Meghan, now settled in Montecito, have not attended since their royal exit, meaning neither Archie nor Lilibet has participated in this family tradition. This absence has fueled narratives of estrangement, with The Sun reporting in 2024 that King Charles is “desperate” to see his grandchildren but faces logistical and emotional barriers.

Public and Media Reaction: A Divided Narrative

Meghan’s 2019 Easter absence sparked a range of reactions. Supporters viewed it as a sensible choice for a pregnant woman, with one X post from April 2019 stating, “Meghan’s about to give birth—why should she drag herself to a church service for optics?” Critics, however, saw it as part of a broader pattern of defiance. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk, “Meghan’s absences, even if justified, fed into a narrative of her being difficult or detached.”

The media amplified this divide. The Sun and Daily Mail ran headlines like “Meghan Misses Easter Amid Tensions,” while more sympathetic outlets like HELLO! emphasized her pregnancy as the sole factor. The polarized coverage foreshadowed the media storm surrounding the couple’s royal exit, with Meghan often cast as either a victim of unfair scrutiny or a disruptor of royal protocol.

The Lasting Implications

Meghan’s 2019 Easter absence, though a minor event in isolation, became a symbol of the challenges she faced within the royal framework. Her pregnancy provided a clear rationale, but the public and media response highlighted the intense expectations placed on her as a new royal. The incident also foreshadowed the couple’s eventual withdrawal, as their desire for privacy clashed with the demands of public life.

For Harry and Meghan, the absence marked a turning point. Their decision to prioritize family over tradition—evident in both the 2018 and 2019 Easter skips—set the stage for their bold move to California. Yet, it also deepened their rift with the Royal Family, with reports in The Sun suggesting that King Charles and Prince William feel the couple’s absence at family events like Easter underscores their disconnection.

What’s Next for the Sussexes?

Now living in Montecito, Harry and Meghan have built a new life centered on their Archewell foundation, Netflix projects, and raising their children. Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, and Harry’s Invictus Games keep them in the public eye, but on their terms. However, their absence from royal events like Easter continues to fuel speculation about reconciliation. Posts on X from April 2024 reflect this, with one user asking, “Will Harry and Meghan ever bring Archie and Lilibet to Easter in Windsor? It’s sad they’re growing up so far from family.”

Conclusion: A Moment That Echoes

Meghan Markle’s absence from the 2019 Easter Sunday service was, at its core, a practical decision driven by her pregnancy. Yet, it became a flashpoint in the broader saga of her and Harry’s royal journey, reflecting the tensions between personal choice and public duty. As the Sussexes forge their path in America, the 2019 Easter moment remains a poignant reminder of the scrutiny they faced—and the bold steps they took to redefine their lives. Whether seen as a snub or a necessity, it underscores the complex legacy of a couple caught between tradition and independence.

Sources: The Sun, HELLO!, Express.co.uk, Spare by Prince Harry, X posts