The Queen made the taboo announcement today that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew would not be joining the rest of the Royal Family as they greet the public from Buckingham Palace balcony during her Jubilee celebrations next month.
It was revealed today that after “careful consideration” Her Majesty, England’s longest reigning monarch, will only permit working members of the Royals to join her on the famous balcony after the Trooping the Color ceremony:
“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,” said the official statement from a Palace spokesman.
Speculation among Royal experts suggests that the Queen was concerned negative press attention focussed on Harry, Meghan and Andrew would overshadow the Platinum Jubilee which will celebrate 70 years of Elizabeth’s reign and her services to Britain and the Commonwealth.
Prince Louis made his Buckingham Palace balcony debut at the Queen’s Birthday Parade.
The one-year-old waved as the Red Arrows flew over The Mall.#TroopingTheColour pic.twitter.com/JOiu9SgYgr
— PA Media (@PA) June 8, 2019
But in another turn of events, just 18 minutes after the Palace had given the announcement that the Sussexes would not be permitted on the balcony, defiant Harry and Meghan rushed to Twitter to make the statement that they would be coming to the UK regardless and would be taking their children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 11 months, with them.
Royal expert Tom Bower told the Daily Mail that fame-hungry Meghan and Harry will probably try to “milk” the event for press attention:
“They have been forced to accept a downgraded role – grouped with all the other VIPs – but are clearly desperate not to be excluded. If the Palace is not remarkably careful, the Sussexes will milk the celebrations for their own benefit,” he told Mail Online.
At the beginning of June, the UK will mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee across a four-day bank holiday weekend.
There’s lots of pomp and ceremony planned, but there’s also some awkward maneuvers to make regarding invitations. Our Royal Correspondent @simonvigar5 has the details. pic.twitter.com/vcXpJj8tSU
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) May 6, 2022
“Hopefully, the Sussexes will be kept firmly in check to avoid their selfish interests dominating the celebration of the Queen’s awe-inspiring service to Britain.”
Angela Levin, a Royal author, said if Harry and Meghan are allowed to steal the limelight: “The focus will be on them and how they behave, which the Jubilee shouldn’t be about.
“It will have such a different positive atmosphere if there are working royals who support Her Majesty.”
While the Queen’s decision to exclude Royal family members who are not actively involved in Royal duties will mean the exclusion of Harry and Meghan from certain events, exception have been made for some of Harry’s fellow grandchildren and a selection of some of the Queen’s great-grandchildren including Harry’s brother William’s children George, Charlotte and Louis.
“The Queen wants the family to put on a united front. A huge amount has gone on behind the scenes to achieve this,” said Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
The Trooping the Color ceremony on June 2 will mark the beginning of a four-day long celebration. 18 members of the Royal family will gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, which overlooks London’s The Mall which stretches out in front of the building.
Traditionally, the Trooping the Color includes a fly-over by the RAF Red Arrow display team and a parade of thousands of Foot Guards in traditional bear-skin hats and red tunics.
Harry, Meghan and Andrew will be allowed to attend numerous other events during the celebrations.
This story syndicated with permission from For the Love of News
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