Harry And Meghan Missing From Oman State Visit As Palace Draws Line

If you watched the grand welcome at Windsor Castle this week, you may have asked the same question as everyone else: where were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? King Charles hosted the Sultan of Oman for a glittering state visit, Prince William and Kate were right there at his side, the carriages rolled, the bands played — but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were nowhere to be seen. Here is the full story of the visit, and the simple reason the Sussexes were missing from it.

First, the visit itself, because it was a genuinely historic one. Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman arrived in Britain for a state visit running from 20 to 22 October — the first incoming state visit from Oman since 1982, more than forty years ago. State visits are the highest honour one country can offer another, and Britain rolled out every piece of pageantry it owns. Prince William travelled to greet the Sultan personally, there was a carriage procession through Windsor, a Guard of Honour inspection, lunch at the castle, and a special display of treasures from the Royal Collection connected to Oman.

Then came the night everyone waits for: the state banquet in St George’s Hall. One hundred and sixty guests sat at a table fifty metres long. King Charles praised the bond between fathers and sons in his speech, and there was a warm royal detail underneath the formality — Prince William and the Sultan’s son, Sayyid Theyazin, are joint patrons of the Jewel of Arabia Expedition, a project close to both families. Queen Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, and Kate Middleton stunned the room in a pale yellow Elie Saab gown with a cape design, wearing Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, with jewellery that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth. By every account, it was a flawless royal evening.

Which brings us back to the empty chairs. Why were Harry and Meghan not there? The answer, according to reports, is simple and not dramatic at all. State visits are working royal events, and only working members of the royal family take part in them. Harry and Meghan stepped back from official duties in 2020, so they are not on the list for occasions like this — even though the couple are now living in Britain again. It is a rule about roles, not a personal snub, and it has applied to every state visit since the couple left their working positions.

Commentary around the visit noted something that made their absence feel bigger this time: this was the first incoming state visit since the Sussexes returned to the UK. In the California years, nobody expected to see them at a Windsor banquet — they were an ocean away, and the question never even came up. Now home is Britain again. They are, in theory, a short drive from Windsor Castle. And yet the rule is the rule, so every big royal evening from now on will bring the same question from fans: will this be the night the line softens?

It is worth pausing on how much has changed around this story. Only days earlier, Harry had spoken in an interview about family more warmly than he has in years, saying that reconciliation is the most important thing and that his father is getting better. Set those words beside the banquet photographs — Charles glowing with pride, William at his side, Kate in a tiara — and you can feel the two halves of the royal story moving in different directions at the same time: one family healing in public at Windsor, and one couple building their new British life just outside the palace walls.

The visit itself continued in the same grand rhythm. There was a formal farewell, a meeting with the Prime Minister at Downing Street, a banquet at the Guildhall in London, and a final engagement before the Sultan departed. None of it involved the Sussexes, and none of it was expected to. The machine of monarchy runs on working royals, and at Windsor this week that machine ran beautifully.

So what happens next for Harry and Meghan when the next state visit comes — and there is always a next one? Nothing has been announced, and it would be wrong to promise fans a reunion scene that nobody has confirmed. For now, the palace line appears clear and calm: working royals host, and the Sussexes live their own life outside that circle. But families change, and this one has surprised the world before. The empty chairs at St George’s Hall told one story this week. Whether they tell the same story next year is the question royal watchers will keep asking — and with Harry’s own words about reconciliation still fresh, it is a question with more hope in it than there used to be.

Key Takeaways

• King Charles hosted Sultan Haitham of Oman at Windsor for the first Omani state visit since 1982.
• Prince William greeted the Sultan, and William and Kate played leading roles, including at the St George’s Hall banquet for 160 guests.
• Kate wore a pale yellow Elie Saab gown with the Lover’s Knot Tiara; Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.
• Harry and Meghan were not at any of the visit events, including the banquet.
• According to reports, only working royals take part in state visits, and the Sussexes stepped back from duties in 2020.
• Their absence stood out because this was the first incoming state visit since the couple returned to live in Britain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were Harry and Meghan not at the Oman state banquet?
A: According to reports, state visits are working royal events, and only working members of the royal family take part. Harry and Meghan stepped back from working duties in 2020.

Q: Who hosted the Sultan of Oman at Windsor?
A: King Charles hosted the visit, with Prince William greeting the Sultan on arrival and William and Kate playing leading roles through the visit, including at the state banquet.

Q: What did Kate Middleton wear to the Oman state banquet?
A: A pale yellow Elie Saab gown with a cape design, Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, and jewellery that belonged to Queen Elizabeth.

Q: Was this the first state visit since Harry and Meghan returned?
A: Commentary around the visit noted it was the first incoming state visit since the Sussexes came back to live in Britain, which made their absence more noticeable.

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