Harry and Meghan reunited with royal family for Queen’s platinum jubilee

In an event full of symbolism, this carefully choreographed moment was in some ways an olive branch and a tacit recognition of the Sussexes’ star power.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk through Saint Paul's Cathedral in London for the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's reign, their first public appearance in Britain in two years.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have spent the past couple of days undertaking a delicate performance on the fringes of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee.

Spotted together at public events in the U.K. for the first time since their acrimonious breakaway from royal duties in 2020, the couple made their way into St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday to give thanks for the queen’s record time on the throne.

The crowds cheered as the couple walked up the steps to the service, following in a line of over a dozen more minor royals. Prince Harry, bedecked in medals, held hands with the Duchess of Sussex, as they were given space by the rest of the family to then walk on their own down the centre of the cathedral to their seats.

The carefully choreographed moment was in some ways an olive branch to the couple and a tacit recognition of their star power.

This historic jubilee is both a time for family reconciliation as the House of Windsor rallies around the queen, but also a stage to showcase a new slimline monarchy re-entered on the monarch and her direct heirs. The Sussexes must both be seen to be involved but not overly present, say royal watchers.

Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, (L), Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (C) and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) ain church.

To that end, Prince Harry and his immediate family weren’t invited for the key balcony photo opportunity at Buckingham Palace on Thursday with the queen and aren’t undertaking any major ceremonial duties during the four-day jubilee event.

While his older brother — who is second-in-line to the throne — Prince William wore a bearskin hat and saluted the troops during a military parade on Thursday, Prince Harry was photographed in a room overlooking the parade ground, chatting to the queen’s first cousin. The Duchess of Sussex, meanwhile, played with younger members of the family.

They were among the estimated 400 guests sitting in St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday. The queen, who is suffering mobility problems, decided not to attend, citing “discomfort” during the events on Thursday, a palace spokesman said. Another absentee was her second son Prince Andrew, who had quit royal duties after settling allegations that he sexually abused a teenager. A spokeswoman for him declined to comment. Buckingham Palace said Thursday that Prince Andrew tested positive for Covid-19.

The couple chats with Zara Tindall.

In a yet another symbolic moment, it was the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, who represented the queen during the ceremony at St. Paul’s.

The wider jubilee gathering does offer hope for some reconciliation between the Sussexes and the monarchy. Before the jubilee, Queen Elizabeth hadn’t yet met Prince Harry and Meghan’s daughter, who is named Lilibet after her. Lilibet, the queen’s 11th great-grandchild, turns 1 on Saturday. A royal adviser dismissed as speculation reports that the queen’s decision not to travel to Epsom to view the horse racing on Saturday may open a window in her diary for a meeting with the baby. A spokesperson for the Sussexes didn’t respond for comment.

In April the Sussexes had tea with the monarch during a trip to Europe. “She’s always got a great sense of humour with me and I’m making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her,” Prince Harry said at the time.

Harry was seen talking cordially to his brother Prince William last year after the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip.

The Sussexes leave the church.

There is still lingering bitterness among royal aides over the “Megxit” split which was announced back in 2020. Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, initially tried to negotiate a deal to keep some royal functions while also being free to pursue commercial ventures, officials say. The queen vetoed this, so as to better control the royal brand.

The couple built a new life in California. They netted tens of millions of dollars in deals with media companies like Netflix Inc. and Spotify Technology SA, many of which rely on their proximity to royalty.

They did this all while aiming barbs at their former employer. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, the Duchess of Sussex, who is bi-racial, spoke of feeling suicidal while working in the palace and said that a member of the royal family voiced concerns about how dark her unborn child’s skin would be. The queen said the issues raised were “concerning.” The couple was later stripped of all their royal roles and honorary military titles.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the service.

There could be more awkwardness to come. Prince Harry is due to release an autobiography, something that royal aides are bracing for.

However, the prince was seen talking cordially to his brother Prince William last year after the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip. The Sussexes recently renewed the lease on a property on the Windsor Castle estate called Frogmore Cottage, according to one aide.

That raises the prospect of further visits.

The Wall Street Journal