Why Meghan, Kate were kept apart at the Trooping the Colour

Meghan and Kate were at opposite ends of the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour, but why?

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during Trooping The Colour stood at the opposite end from Kate Middleton for a reason, say experts. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Many royal fans were delighted to see Meghan, Duchess of Sussex last weekend when she broke her maternity leave to attend the annual Trooping the Colour.

However, they didn’t see as much of her as they might have hoped, according to The Sun.

When it came to the iconic Buckingham Palace flyover, the Duchess of Sussex stood three rows back, making her barely visible to the crowds.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex came out for Trooping the Colour but was hidden up the back and away from Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: Matrix Pictures

However, her sister-in-law Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, took prime position on the front row of the palace balcony.

According to one royal expert, where the royals end up on the balcony is all down to the line of succession.

Speaking to People last year Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said: “She (Meghan) was not as prominent perhaps as some people might have expected, but there’s a pecking order.

Royal experts say there was a ‘pecking order’ to how the royals were arranged on the balcony. Picture: Matrix Pictures

“There was no slight intended, but William being the older, more senior brother would go out [first] with his wife.”

But a royal source confirmed there is no set positioning, and it would have ultimately been Meghan’s decision to move towards the back.

The unnamed source told People: “(It) would have come from her. There’s no one laying this out, telling her where to stand.

“And there were a lot of kids who everyone would want at the front.”

The grand event was held in honour of the Queen’s official birthday and ended with the royals watching the RAF fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Baby Prince Louis of Cambridge stole the show during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Louis stole the hearts of the nation as he made his debut royal engagement.

However, fans were disappointed not to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie Harrison at the event.

The Queen may have intervened when it came to the decision to leave her youngest great-grandchild at home.

Editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine told The Sun: “The Queen, through her private secretary, could easily have said Archie was far too young for the Palace balcony, which indeed he is.

Some were disappointed that Meghan did not bring baby Archie onto the balcony but experts say the Queen wanted to avoid a ‘tantrum’. Picture: Matrix Pictures

“She herself took baby Prince Edward onto the balcony in June 1964 but he was three months old and she was the Queen so she could do as she liked!

“Her view would be that it is an event to be enjoyed by children, but no younger then Prince Louis as they must be able to behave properly.

“The last thing she wants is for millions of TV viewers to witness a childhood tantrum.”

Piers Morgan criticised Meghan for ‘snubbing’ Donald Trump during his state visit. Harry and Meghan are reportedly preparing to visit Africa in the coming months.

In other royal news, Piers Morgan blasted Meghan’s snub of Donald Trump’s state visit as “shameful and unacceptable.”

While Meghan won’t return to work until autumn but will “mirror” Kate with “a few” outings, she is reportedly preparing to visit South Africa, Angola and Malawi in the coming months.

This story first appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.