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‘Fuming’: Harry and Meghan ‘relegated’ in royal shake-up during Jubilee event says expert

The Sussexes were “tucked away” behind other members of the royal family during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as part of a shake-up, according to an expert.

Palace ‘in panic mode’ over Harry and Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “relegated” behind the Duke of Gloucester as part of a royal shake-up at a Platinum Jubilee event, according to an expert.

Last month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travelled to the UK – taking their two children Archie and Lilibet – to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

But during the monarch’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, the pair were “tucked away” behind other members of the monarchy.

Now royal expert and biographer Duncan Larcombe has said the move was part of a drastic royal shake-up.

“Those four days will haunt Prince Harry for the rest of his life,” he told True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat.

“They [Meghan and Harry] were relegated to sitting behind the Duke of Gloucester.

“They didn’t take part in any way, shape or form visibly at the Trooping the Colour and fair play to them.”

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Harry and Meghan attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s – with the Duke of Gloucester shown in the row in front of them. Picture: Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty
Harry and Meghan attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s – with the Duke of Gloucester shown in the row in front of them. Picture: Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty

Other prominent members of the royal family sat in the front row at the Thanksgiving Service, while the couple were downgraded to sit in the second row.

Mr Larcombe added: “You can take your pick with things they were excluded from [during the Jubilee weekend]. Whether they excluded themselves or not, they flew home on a private jet before the thing had even finished.

“That you could say was just them being respectful of not stealing the limelight but that will not be how Prince Harry sees it.

“He will be fuming about the way he and his family were treated – if it was the royal family who said, ‘You’re not coming to the royal box’, ‘You are not going to sit there’ while the likes of Mike Tindall and other minor non-working royals were there.”

Mike Tindall pictured behind Kate Middleton at the Platinum Pageant during the Jubilee celebrations. Picture: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty
Mike Tindall pictured behind Kate Middleton at the Platinum Pageant during the Jubilee celebrations. Picture: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty
And the husband of Zara shown again seated behind Prince Charles at the Thanksgiving Service. Picture: Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty
And the husband of Zara shown again seated behind Prince Charles at the Thanksgiving Service. Picture: Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were booed after leaving the Service of Thanksgiving. Picture: Humphrey Nemar/WPA Pool/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were booed after leaving the Service of Thanksgiving. Picture: Humphrey Nemar/WPA Pool/Getty

During their time in the UK, the Sussexes received a frosty reception.

The couple were booed by the public while walking down the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Royal commentator Lady Colin Campbell claimed Harry and Meghan were “avoided like the plague” at a number of Jubilee events and “nobody would speak to them”.

“And then the coup de grace as far as they were concerned was not only that they were booed, but while they were waiting for their car, nobody would speak to them except Zara.

“Mike Tindall avoided them like the plague. He made absolutely sure he did not catch their eye.”

The family’s trip came to an early end and they returned to California in a private jet. They flew out before the Jubilee celebrations had even wrapped up.

However, sources told the New York Post this wasn’t a royal snub – the pair had always intended to only attend two events and leave, it was claimed.

– with New York Post

Read related topics:Meghan MarklePrince Harry

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/fuming-harry-and-meghan-relegated-in-royal-shakeup-during-jubilee-event-says-expert/news-story/07d21fdfe499bb0b8cc1c5c8342ac94f