As opposed to what Markle’s critics have said in the past, the Duchess reportedly really did think of going to support the monarch on the big day. “Meghan wants to be there to support her father-in-law, but at the same time, the scrutiny she receives outweighs the support,” a close friend told People.
“There’s always going to be that other side challenging their reasoning, and who wants to put themselves in that position?” To whoever this friend is, we totally feel that!
Markle RSVPed “no,” with the explanation that she would be staying home with the couple’s two kids. “It’s an elegant solution,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet, adding that the birthday “gave them a reasonable out for Meghan not to come.”