Queen invites Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to her 95th birthday celebrations

The Queen is thought to have invited Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex to her 95th birthday celebrations in June. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly expected to attend the Queen's 95th birthday celebrations as it is a "family occasion" as well as an official one.
• This is thought to be the Royal Family's first public reunion with the couple since last year. 
• In other Royal News, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have quit social media. 

The 94-year-old monarch is already Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, having surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria’s reign length in 2015. Now this year will see her mark yet another momentous occasion with her 95th birthday. The Sunday Times has suggested that the Queen is keen to get “back to business” after being forced to cancel a range of royal events last year due to the effects of the pandemic. Already this year, Her Majesty has sadly had to cancel her annual garden parties for 2021. 

But with her birthday in June, it seems the Queen is hoping to be able to spend time with her loved ones. Having not seen her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle since last year, the Queen has reportedly invited the couple to her birthday event. 

Has the Queen invited Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to her birthday?

According to The Sunday Times, the Trooping the Colour parade on June 12 to mark the Queen’s official birthday will fall two days after the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday. 

It is thought to be the first public reunion of the Royal Family with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since they made their last public royal engagement before stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family. 

Royal aides reportedly told the publication as the event is both an official and a “family occasion”, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to join the Queen at the event.

What is Trooping the Colour?

Trooping the Colour is the term given to the military parade that is held each year to mark the Queen’s official birthday on 12 June. It is traditionally held in public and members of the Royal Family join the Queen on her balcony at Buckingham Palace to witness the exciting event. 

Last year due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic the Queen enjoyed scaled-down, socially-distanced birthday celebrations. The Trooping the Colour ceremony was held at Windsor Castle for the first time in the monarch’s reign, as that was where the Queen had been shielding with her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 

According to the Daily Mail, a final decision on the scale of this year's Trooping the Colour is expected to be made in the spring.

The Queen and Prince Philip currently remain at Windsor Castle where they celebrated Christmas “quietly”. This June will not only mark the Queen’s 95th birthday, but also Prince Philip’s 100th birthday. It has been reported that, travel restrictions permitting, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would like to return for these key events.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's last public engagement in UK as senior members of the Royal Family was the Commonwealth Day service held at Westminster Abbey in March 2020.

We can’t wait to see them reunite with the Royal Family for this significant event in 2021.