Meghan Markle will not attend Prince Philip’s funeral

Following the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry is due to reunite with his family to pay his respects at the burial, albeit without his wife Meghan Markle.

On the recommendation of her doctor, the Duchess of Sussex, who is due to give birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, in early summer, will remain at home in California.

Markle wanted to be by his husband's side, according to a source close to the royals, but the 12-hour journey was considered too exhausting.

“The Duke of Sussex is planning to attend,” a royal spokesperson said. “The Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her physician not to travel. So the duke will be attending,” a royal spokesman said at a press briefing, using Harry's other title.”

Harry, who currently lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and son Archie Harrison, is expected to attend the ceremony, which will take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where he and Meghan married.

The funeral will be a small gathering, with only 30 people included due to strict social-distancing laws in the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend the memorial service in order to make room for as many members of the royal family as possible.

Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's lifelong spouse, died “peacefully” at Windsor Castle on Friday at the age of 99, only two months shy of his 100th birthday.