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As Megan Markle stood staring up at the grand facade of Althorp House, the stately family home of the late Princess Diana, she was met with a sobering sight - the grand double oak doors remained firmly shut. Just weeks after being asked by King Charles III to vacate their UK residence Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Megan had hoped to gain an invitation to a private Spencer family gathering at Althorp to plead her case for forming a more permanent connection to Diana's legacy.
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However, that request was denied. According to sources close to the Sussexes, Megan was quite insistent that she and Harry be allowed to attend to discuss possibilities like Charles granting them Althorp House or permission to use the Spencer name. But with their eviction from Frogmore still fresh, this seemed the perfect chance to strengthen ties to Diana's side of the family.
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Unfortunately for Megan and Harry, Earl Charles Spencer wants no such association. In a recent interview, Diana's brother stated the couple's request to be adopted into the Spencer family and use their name commercially was "seriously rejected." The family has "no desire to be exploited" in this way.
The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family has widened since Harry and Megan's controversial Oprah interview. Their step back from duties and high-profile moves have served only to strain relations further. So the eviction from Frogmore Cottage, a deeply symbolic property, has dealt another harsh blow.
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Sources say Harry and Megan were blindsided and devastated to learn they had to leave at the King's decree, considering it a sanctuary even as they set up lives in California. To many, reclaiming Frogmore was a strategic move by the palace to cut remaining ties and further distance the couple.
With Althorp now closed to them as well, it seems the Sussexes' efforts to maintain close bonds to Diana's legacy have been fully thwarted. As commentator Nigel Paton observed, this evokes a picture of the crown systematically trying to erase their connection to the royal family.
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For Harry and Megan, the idea of living at or accessing Althorp provided an important sense of belonging, especially as they feel ostracized from the Windsors. To have the Spencers slam that door shut has cut deeply.
Furthermore, it casts doubt on reported plans for the Sussexes to formally adopt the Spencer name and leverage its brand recognition, with Earl Spencer explicitly rejecting such proposals. The family line in the sand has been made resoundingly clear.
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As Harry and Meghan continue navigating post-royal life turbulence, being denied access to the institutions of both the Windsors and Spencers sends a sobering message about the challenges ahead. With the King unwilling to make further concessions and the Spencers maintaining strong boundaries, the couple find themselves increasingly isolated.
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Only time will tell how the Sussexes choose to respond to these setbacks. But for now, the rift with the British royal family shows no signs of healing, and the closed doors of Althorp house serve as a stark reminder of fences still left to mend.
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