Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Didn't Attend Order of the Garter 2019

From Harper's BAZAAR

• The Order of the Garter 2019 took place at Windsor Castle, and was attended by members of the royal family including Kate Middleton and Prince William.

• Along with a plethora of British royal family members, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, along with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, were also in attendance at this year's celebration.

• Noticeably absent from proceeding were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

The Order of the Garter is a prestigious annual event which sees members of the royal family wearing ceremonial outfits for a special service at St. George's Chapel.

The Garter Day celebrations honor the new inductees to the Order of the Garter which, according to the royal family's website, is "oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain."

While Kate Middleton put in a chic appearance at this year's event wearing a Catherine Walker coat dress, Meghan Markle wasn't present for the proceedings, and neither was Prince Harry. So why were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex absent from 2019's Order of the Garter?

In 2018, British and European royalty expert, Marlene Koenig, told BAZAAR.com, "The Duke of Sussex is not a Knight of the Garter and will probably not be invested until his father is King." She continued, "The Duchess of Sussex has never attended and will probably not attend until Harry is named."

It's also worth noting that Prince William (who became a Knight of the Garter in 2008) is relatively young to have received the honor from Queen Elizabeth. Koenig explained, "one reason why the Queen named him, despite being [so] young," is likely that he's second in line to the throne.

Meanwhile, as Prince Harry's appointment is unlikely to be made until Prince Charles takes the throne, it could be some time before Meghan attends the Order of the Garter.

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