Meghan Markle’s attendance at a high-profile Los Angeles gala next month remains uncertain as the Duchess of Sussex’s name is not mentioned on the event’s official programme.
The Night of Wonder gala at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is now advertised for October 15 at 6pm local time, but the museum’s website makes no mention of Meghan.
Instead, it invites guests to “join us for a magical evening at the Natural History Museum as we celebrate our reimagined annual gala, Night of Wonder” and lists cocktails, dinner and a programme in the gardens as the evening’s highlights.
This is a marked change from June, when organisers announced that Meghan, 43, would be honoured as a “champion of underserved communities” and deliver a speech. Tickets for the black-tie event were priced from $1,500 (£1,100).
Meghan Markle appears to be wiped from glitzy LA event after urgent rescheduling
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GB News contacted representatives for the Duchess and the museum’s organisers for comment, but neither responded.
The original June gala was dramatically postponed amid violent unrest in Los Angeles.
Riots linked to federal immigration enforcement (ICE) prompted arson, street clashes and a National Guard deployment, forcing the museum to cancel at short notice.
In an email to ticket holders, Chief Advancement Officer Paul Bessire said organisers had made the “difficult decision” to postpone the event.
Meghan Markle's name does not appear on the Night of Wonder gala programme
|LA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
“Los Angeles is experiencing a challenging moment, and our responsibility is clear: to serve as a community resource focused on healing and unity, not celebration,” he wrote.
He added: “During challenging times, our role is to support our neighbors and demonstrate the values that make our city and County strong.
“Our Board of Trustees, and all event partners unanimously support this decision.
“We believe this is the right choice for our community and aligns with our shared commitment to serving all Angelenos.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to the US in 2020
| GETTY“We will find a future moment to celebrate our work. Until then, we will channel our energy towards being welcoming spaces for learning and discovery for everyone who walks through our doors.”
Earlier statements from museum president Dr Lori Bettison-Varga described Meghan as an “honouree” whose work “to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity — especially for underserved communities — aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation, including through our STEM and STEAM Pathways programs.”
The rescheduled event promises an “enchanted garden evening” featuring live music, immersive exhibits and a banquet meal, but Meghan’s role is no longer clear.