Dolly Parton Snubs Meghan Markle, Extends Warm Invitation to Kate Middleton and Family
In a move that’s likely to leave Meghan Markle fuming, American icon Dolly Parton has snubbed the Duchess of Sussex in favor of the British royal family. The legendary country singer extended a heartfelt invitation to Princess Catherine (Kate Middleton) and her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—to visit her famous Dollywood amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Meanwhile, Meghan was notably left out of the invite, sparking what could only be described as a hint of jealousy.
Parton, 78, was enthusiastic about the prospect of hosting the royals. In a recent interview with *Closer*, the country queen gushed, saying, “Oh, I would absolutely love for them to come to Dollywood. That would be fantastic!” She added that the royal children would be treated like royalty during their visit, saying, “They could go on all the rides, and we’d treat them like royalty.”
But the snubbing didn’t stop there. Dolly went even further to endear herself to the British royal family by making a down-to-earth gesture toward Princess Catherine. She said, “I’d offer them mashed potatoes without putting on any airs. I just let them enjoy what we enjoy, and I’m sure that’s the way they’d want it.” Sorry, Meghan—looks like Dollywood’s renowned Southern hospitality is reserved for royals, not exiled duchesses.
This latest snub comes shortly after Dolly missed an opportunity to have tea with Kate Middleton last year during a promotional tour in the UK. Parton was invited by the Princess of Wales to share a cup of tea, but had to decline due to her busy schedule. Dolly admitted to BBC Radio, “I even got invited to have tea with Kate. I felt so bad.” Despite her regret, Dolly emphasized how sweet the invitation was, adding, “But she wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no.”
Adding salt to Meghan’s wounds, Dolly didn’t just extend an olive branch to Catherine and her children, but also fondly reminisced about her past interactions with the royal family. Parton reflected on her meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II during the 1977 Silver Jubilee, recalling feeling “scared to death” about curtsying incorrectly, but describing the Queen as “very warm, very sweet, and very giving.” Such nostalgic sentiments will likely grind Meghan’s gears, especially considering her own complicated relationship with the royal family.
While Meghan and Prince Harry continue to face public scrutiny and controversial interviews, Dolly’s encounters with the royals have been nothing but gracious and respectful. Following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022, Dolly paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, celebrating the Queen’s grace and strength with a touching photo of their meeting. For Meghan, who seems to prefer airing grievances on platforms like Spotify and Netflix, this shows the kind of positive royal engagement that may leave her feeling overshadowed.
In stark contrast to Meghan’s recent struggles with public perception, Kate Middleton’s commitment to early childhood development and charity work has clearly won Dolly’s admiration. Parton, who has donated over 200 million books to children through her Imagination Library initiative, shares similar charitable values with the Princess of Wales.
As Meghan and Harry continue to grapple with their dwindling popularity, Dolly Parton’s star continues to shine brighter—especially in the eyes of the British royal family. Meghan may have thought her move to sunny California would elevate her, but it turns out the real star power was waiting for her in Tennessee all along.
