Barsel - // Andy //Secondly, it is precisely because the date fell on his grandson's birthday that the date was chosen //
Do you really believe that? //
Obviously, or I would not have posted it.
// I would have thought that date was chosen because it was convenient for hundreds of guests that were invited. //
Regardless of the 'convenience' - or indeed inconvenience, for the hundreds of guests, the King's convenience, and that of his immediate family, is the first consideration, before any plan starts formulation.
I think someone somewhere would have reminded the King - if he needed reminding - that the proposed date was a family birthday, and the King would, if he wished, have changed the date to a week before, or after, with no obvious issue that I am aware of.
So yes, as i stated, i think the date was selected as a 'get out clause' for Harry and his wife to reject his invitation with something approaching a feasible reason, other than the one that they despise the monarchy, and want nothing to do with it.
// By the way, did you read that there was no party and that Meghan was out hiking with a few friends of hers? //
No, but I'm not remotely surprised - as I pointed out above, it's likely that Meaghan didn't not attend because of her son's birthday - he is not going to know that she did that - it's for another, rather more obvious reason.