The Queen has confirmed that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Andrew won't join her on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
- A statement released by Buckingham Palace confirmed that certain members of the royal family will be omitted from the Jubilee balcony appearance "after careful consideration".
- The monarch's Jubilee balcony moment is set to take place on June 2nd but won't be a full family affair, despite the fact Harry and Meghan are expected to fly back to the UK especially to celebrate her 70th year on the throne.
- This royal news comes after the Queen pulled out of more special plans after ongoing health struggles.
The statement released on behalf of Her Majesty reads, "After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on June 2 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 news means that we will see the Queen joined by Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Sophie Wessex, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne appear next to the monarch as she steps out on the balcony for the crowds of royal fans.
The select members of the firm will also be allowed to be joined by their children, so it's likely the Cambridge kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as well as the Wessex children, Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn, will be there.
Princess Anne will also be joined by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy James Hamilton Laurence.
It also means that the public won't see the Queen alongside Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Prince Andrew—nor will the likes of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice be invited to appear on the balcony.
The news comes after months of reports of ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royals, ever since they stepped back from the family duties and moved to LA.
There was some uncertainty over whether Harry and Meghan would make the trip back for the Jubilee celebrations with baby Lilibet and son Archie, due to their worries surrounding their security in the UK.
However, a spokesperson for the family has now confirmed that they will be involved in the much-anticipated Jubilee weekend, saying, "Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children."
Meanwhile, it is somewhat unsurprising that Prince Andrew isn't invited to appear on the balcony after the Queen stripped him of his status as a working royal as well as his patronages and military titles.
The move came after Virginia Giuffre's sexual abuse allegations against Andrew.
Virginia Giuffre claims that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, when she was 17-years-old.
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