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The Queen has formed a “new firm” of eight senior royals for public appearances–and Meghan and Harry are missing from the list.
Although it would certainly be hard for Meghan and Harry to make public appearances from their new home in California, British tabloids were quick to point out that their names were absent from the list. This might be a slight to the couple, but it is more likely a result of them stepping down from royal duties. The Duke of Edinburgh was also not included in the “new firm,” and he retired in 2017.
Keep reading for all the details of the Queen’s new group–and whether or not Meghan and Harry will actually be offended by their exclusion from this list.
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The select group includes eight senior royals: Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, and the Queen.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Duke of Edinburgh are missing from the list. Prince Andrew was also excluded from the list; he stopped public appearances after his relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein became known.
The group was formed to abide by the Queen's dedication to public appearances.
It abides by her mantra of "one must be seen to be believed."
A royal insider explained to the Mirror: "The family are united in exploring the possibilities in working with each other to highlight the causes dear to their hearts, helping each other and the country at the same time. They are working on opportunities for next year and beyond already. As soon as they are able it will be all hands on deck to make up for lost time. The Queen has often said they 'need to be seen to be believed'—this is coming from the very top."
The new firm also aligns with Prince Charles' longterm goals of having a more slimmed down monarchy.
The group made their first appearance together on the steps of Windsor Castle.
According to the Mirror, this group is a sign that the royal family hopes to get back to their full duties "as soon as possible."
Since Meghan and Harry decided to step back from their royal duties, it only makes sense that they were not included in the "new firm."
