A royal insider has weighed in on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s surprising absence from some of Hollywood’s most prestigious events held over the Oscars weekend.
Tom Bower is an author and royal expert who wrote the best-selling biography Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors which shone new light on Meghan’s life prior to marrying into the royal family.
In a new interview, Mr. Bower pointed to Meghan and Harry’s absence from exclusive events before and during the Oscars as a sign of the Sussexes’ waning influence among celebrities.
“They weren’t even invited to Elton John’s party at the Oscars. They really are nobodies in Hollywood,” he told GB News on Wednesday.
Elton John’s Oscars viewing party is an annual event that takes place during the ceremony and typically attracts B and C-list celebrities who aren’t invited to the Academy Awards.
The event raises money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a cause close to Harry’s mother Princess Diana’s heart.
This year’s event included attendees like Donatella Versace, Emma Watson, and Australian singer Troye Sivan.
In addition to invited celebrities, the foundation sells tickets to the event to the general public, which makes the viewing party less exclusive than the actual Oscars.
Mr. Bower warned the King that he risked “undermining” the Monarchy’s status in Britain’s eyes if he continued to accommodate the controversial Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“He’s not being decisive and he’s going to undermine the state of the monarchy in Britain if he’s not very careful,” he said.
The comments follow confirmation the Sussexes have received an invite to the King’s coronation on May 6 but have yet to decide if they will attend.
“They haven’t got to come. If they’re put in row 54 behind a column they won’t come, which is exactly what should happen,” Mr. Bower said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not the only ex-royals expected to appear at the Oscars, following debunked reports that Fergie was to attend the ceremony and even present an award on behalf of the Presley family.
