Megan, Harry and Andrew banned from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
The Queen has issued a sensational statement banning Harry and Meghan from her Jubilee celebrations – but they say they’re coming anyway.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Queen has banned Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew from the Buckingham Palace balcony at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, it has been revealed.
The trio had been expected to join Her Majesty for the traditional Trooping the Colour Royal Air Force fly-past – but “after careful consideration” they will now be publicly excluded, reported The Sun.
There had been doubts over whether Harry and Meghan would even come to the UK for the festivities next month – but minutes after the monarch’s announcement they confirmed they would fly in.
In their first visit as a family of four, they said they were “excited” to bring Archie, three, and baby Lilibet to the UK. It means the Queen, Prince Charles and other senior royals will finally meet Lilibet face-to-face for the first time.
The balcony snub means only working members of the Royal Family will wave to crowds on The Mall outside the palace in central London as the monarch celebrates 70 years on the throne on June 2. However at least one adult member of the family with no Royal duties will be in attendance.
The 96-year-old will stand alongside Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their kids George, Charlotte and Louis.
Also on the line-up will be Anne the Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence; Edward and Sophie, the Count and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn.
A Palace spokesman said: “After careful consideration, the Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June 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.”
Harry, Meghan insist they are part of Jubilee events
The symbolic move is likely to be interpreted as a snub to Harry and Meghan, who quit the monarchy for a new life in the US two years ago, and to Andrew, who was cast out of the institution over his civil sexual assault case.
But a spokesman for the couple told the New York Post that they would still be in London, of not on the balcony: “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.”
The Sussexes, who after Megxit are no longer serving Royals, were only last month invited to join the festivities, though they never confirmed their attendance.
There were fears they could “hijack or overshadow” the long weekend’s events, which take place from June 2 to June 5.
Sources suggested the couple may bring their daughter Lilibet, 10 months, to meet her great-grandmother for the first time alongside son, Archie, who turns three today.
Palace planners were said to be frantically trying to decide where the California-based pair should stand for the balcony line-up.
But today they announced they were being snubbed from it entirely, alongside Andrew, who was last month stripped of his York title.
The under-fire Royal was given the freedom of the city of York in a lavish ceremony in 1987, shortly after his marriage to Sarah Ferguson.
But on April 27, the city council voted to remove his status as an Honorary Freeman in an extraordinary meeting.
He is the first VIP to be stripped of his freemanship since Jimmy Savile posthumously had his freedom of Scarborough removed in 2011 after revelations about his sickening crimes came to light following his death.
On June 2, Trooping the Colour – the sovereign’s official birthday parade – will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities.
Eighteen members of the Royal Family are set to gather on the famous frontage, with the monarch “looking forward” to the weekend of celebrations.
The head of state has made an exception for Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim, who is not a working royal, and 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.”
Andrew stepped down from public duties in 2019 and just weeks ago paid a reported £12 million ($A21m) out of court to settle a civil sexual assault case.
He was repeatedly denied all claims against him.
Andrew was stripped of his honorary military titles and forced to no longer use his HRH style, but he played a key role in March when he escorted his mother to the Duke of Edinburgh’s thanksgiving service.
Harry and Meghan quit as senior working royals amid the Megxit saga, but there was speculation they might return to the UK to attend the Jubilee celebrations.
Andrew and the Sussexes could still make an appearance during other parts of the weekend.
An insider said: “Other family members will be invited to events.
“We’ve always made that clear and they are likely to be public events.”
This story first appeared in The Sun and is reproduced with permission.
Originally published as Megan, Harry and Andrew banned from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Two words raise Sussex marriage concerns
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to appear individually, a friend’s claim has only made things more confusing.
Read more
Royal family posts job ad with low salary
Buckingham Palace has rushed to correct an “error” for inadvertently posting a housekeeper job ad with a salary that is less than minimum wage.
Read more