Don’t expect to see Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle or his uncle Prince Andrew on the Buckingham Palace balcony next to Queen Elizabeth II on June 2nd (as she celebrates her 70-year reign). Every year, the Trooping the Colour ceremony brings the monarch, 95, and her extended family together as they pose on the historic balcony. In 2022, this traditional event will open the other Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations that honor the Queen, and she is sharing her balcony moment with noticeably less family members than usual, as revealed by a Buckingham Palace spokesperson last week.
“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,” the spokesperson told reporters during a briefing. The working royals mentioned include: Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton), the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
#QueenElizabeth is limiting the #PlatinumJubilee Trooping the Colour balcony appearance next month to working royals only meaning there will be no place on it for #PrinceHarry, #MeghanMarkle or #PrinceAndrew after ‘careful consideration’ pic.twitter.com/iW0JA88UA4
— BritAsia TV (@BritAsiaTV) May 8, 2022
Additionally, the moment will include the Cambridge children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis and the Wessex children; Lady Louise and James, as well as Viscount Severn and Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence. “The Queen is happy [for him] to attend as a frequent attendee and support to the Princess Royal on official engagements,” a royal source said of his upcoming appearance.
Many fans on Twitter have expressed hope in the past few months that this balcony photo-op would reunite the Queen with her grandson Harry, 37, and his wife Markle, 40, while also introducing her to her great-granddaughter Lilibet, 11 months (who is named after her). Now that this will not happen, many online are also noting that potential controversy with an appearance by Prince Andrew, 62, (who has been accused of child sexual abuse) will be avoided with this exclusion, but this doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t attend other events over the Jubilee weekend.
UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will attend celebrations for Queen Elizabeth https://t.co/XXXaAK6OOO pic.twitter.com/tzCUmJPm28
— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) May 6, 2022
But what about the Sussexes? “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are excited and honored to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes recently said. While the couple and their son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet (who will be celebrating her first birthday) will not appear on the balcony, there are still multiple possible gatherings they could attend altogether over the four-day weekend, from June 2nd to June 5th. We’ll have to see! (Fingers crossed for a meeting between Lilibet and her namesake!)
