Why Meghan and Harry weren't at the Queen's white tie palace reception

Royal Family members arrived at Buckingham Palace in all their white tie finery on Tuesday evening for an annual reception hosted by the Queen.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex weren't among them.

Rather than attend the Diplomatic Corps Reception, Harry and Meghan part in a Christmas service held by the the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund.

Van Straubenzee, a close friend of both Harry and his brother Prince William, died in a car accident in 2002.

The two princes now serve as patrons to the fund.

During the service, held at St Luke's Church in London, Meghan, 37, gave a reading from the poem "Our Deepest Fear" by Marianne Williamson.

LISTEN: Episode 2 of our royals podcast The Windors looks at Meghan's life before she became the Duchess of Sussex. (Post continues.)

https://omny.fm/shows/the-windsors/a-hollywood-princess-part-one/embed?style=cover

Harry, 34, also addressed the audience, highlighting the work the memorial fund does to support schools in Uganda.

The carol service was also attended by the Duchess of Cambridge's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and her siblings Pippa and James.

It has become something of a Christmas tradition for Prince Harry, who attended the event solo last year.

Back at the Buckingham Palace reception, Kate was a vision in a glittering floor-length white gown and the diamond and pearl Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, a favourite of Princess Diana.

Husband Prince William similarly adhered to the white tie dress code—the most formal of dress codes—in a white tail coat with a matching tie.

The couple, who hosted a Christmas party for military families at Kensington Palace earlier in the day, chatted with members of the diplomatic corps after arriving.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall were also in attendance, as was, of course, Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty, 92, wore a white dress bearing a pale pink floral pattern.