Why Meghan Markle Won't Be with Prince Harry at Princess Diana's Statue Unveiling

Watch: Here's Why Meghan Markle Will Not Be Attending the Princess Diana Statue Unveiling

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is prioritizing motherhood over royal engagements.

Contrary to earlier claims, a Sussex source confirms to BAZAAR.com that the duchess, who just gave birth this month, will not be flying to London with Prince Harry to attend the statue unveiling of his mother, the late Princess Diana. Meghan will instead be focusing on caring for her newborn daughter at her and Harry's Montecito residence in California.

"Meghan has just had a baby and has no plans to travel to London for the memorial event planned for the statue unveiling," another insider revealed to Entertainment Tonight.

Back in 2017, Prince William and Harry commissioned a statue dedicated to their mother to "recognize her positive impact in the United Kingdom and around the world." Following a slew of pandemic-induced delays, the statue's unveiling is now set to take place on July 1, on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday. It will be installed at the Sunken Gardens, said to have been Diana's favorite spot on the Kensington Palace grounds. The upcoming event will be Harry's first reunion with his family since Prince Philip's funeral in April.

"Our mother touched so many lives," the princes said in a statement, per the BBC. "We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy."
The first daughter and second child of Harry and Meghan, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on June 4 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. Her full name borrows from both the names of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II, who was endearingly nicknamed Lilibet among the family in her youth.

Despite the estrangement of her brother-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, shared during a joint engagement with Jill Biden at the G-7 Summit in Cornwall, England, last week that she is eager to meet her new niece. "I can't wait to meet her," she said. "We haven't met her yet. I hope that will be soon."

Watch: What you need to know about Meghan's book

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