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Queen Elizabeth II banned Harry, Meghan Markle, and Andrew from appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony for her Platinum Jubilee Celebration next month after ‘careful consideration,’ the Palace confirmed Friday.
According to the statement from Buckingham Palace, the Queen limits the balcony to “working royals” who are currently serving official royal duties along with their children.
Mirror.co reported:
The Queen has banned Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew from appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony after Trooping the Colour.
It has been revealed that she is limiting the balcony appearance after the special Platinum Jubilee event to working royals only. The monarch’s decision to only include royals carrying out official public duties was taken “after careful consideration”, Buckingham Palace said.
However, despite the seeming snub, Harry and Meghan have confirmed that they will come to the UK to attend the Jubilee celebrations this summer and will also bring their children Archie and Lilibet – who has yet to meet her great grandmother the Queen.
A spokesperson for the couple said: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children.”
It will be the first time Harry and Meghan have brought their family to the UK since leaving for the US.
On June 2, Trooping the Colour – the sovereign’s official birthday parade – will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities, with 18 members of the royal family set to gather on the famous frontage, with the Queen “looking forward” the weekend of celebrations.
A Palace spokesman said: “After careful consideration, the Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday, June 2 will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the royal family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen.”
Joining the Queen on the balcony for Trooping will be Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Also set to appear for the historic occasion will be Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and the Wessexes’ children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The head of state has made an exception for Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim, who is not a working royal, her two youngest grandchildren Lady Louise and James, and her Cambridge great-grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis.
The Palace spokesman added: “In addition, the Cambridge and Wessex children are also expected to appear as is Sir Tim Laurence, who the Queen is happy to attend as a frequent attendee and support for the Princess Royal on official engagements.”
The royal couple, Harry and Meghan, who wed in 2018 in a storybook ceremony, announced in January 2020 that they would withdraw from their roles as senior members of the royal family to become financially independent.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they wrote. “It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” the couple said in a statement.
Following their announcement, the Queen stripped of their royal titles. According to a statement by the royal family, the young royals will no longer be working members of the royal family.
“As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty,” Palace said in a statement.
Following the news that Prince Harry and Princess Meghan were stepping away from the Royal Family, Meghan Markle’s father spoke to reporters. Meghan’s estranged father accused his daughter of “cheapening” the Royal Family and “making it shabby.”
The royal couple also sat down with Oprah for their latest interview so Meghan could whine about how horrible she was treated by the British Royals.
Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle blasted her estranged sibling as a narcissist. “I feel sorry for Harry,” Samantha Markle told an Australian radio show.