It’s been a turbulent few years for Britain’s royal family. And now as Queen Elizabeth II‘s Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour celebration approaches, there’s chatter not just about the monarch’s historic reign but about her family members who have garnered some negative headlines.
There is some fear that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s visit to the U.K. with their two children will overshadow a time that is supposed to be all about the queen and her life of service. There’s also news about her son Prince Andrew, who many thought would keep a low profile, living the “high life” and being seen doing so ahead of his mother’s big Jubilee celebration. Here’s more on that and the plan to keep the focus on the queen instead of her rogue family members.
Meghan and Harry will be kept in the background away from the spotlight
This year marks an incredible 70 years on the throne for the queen and there are many celebrations going on all over England to commemorate her historic reign. But with the announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are flying into town with their two children most of the talk has been all about them instead of the monarch. But the palace has a plan to make sure that Meghan and Harry don’t steal the spotlight from the royal family matriarch.
It’s already been announced that the Sussexes are banned from standing on the balcony with the queen during the annual Trooping of the Colour parade like they have in past years. And according to Page Six, the public won’t see very much of the couple at all as they’ll just be “part of the crowd.”
“The first time you will really see Meghan and Harry in public during the celebrations will be at the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, where they will be just a part of the crowd sitting in a church pew,” a royal source told the publication.
Prince Andrew isn’t keeping a low profile ahead of Jubilee celebrations
Another royal who the Palace has said will not be on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour event is Prince Andrew.
The Duke of York was stripped of his royal duties following sexual assault allegations brought forth by Virginia Giuffre. The prince has denied that the accusations are true but did end up settling with his accuser out of the court. Now though many family members reportedly want Andrew kept out of public view completely. But a number of royal watchers have been chirping that Andrew is enjoying all his free time and living the “high life” instead of laying low.
“He’s been visiting the queen, and people that are close to him have said that he has been round there every day. Some of the staff have said, quite jokingly, that you can set your watch by him turning up just before lunch and just before he goes riding — taking full advantage of the incredible facilities available to the queen at Windsor Castle and on the Windsor estate,” royal editor Russell Myers told Pod Save The Queen.
If Andrew is seen in any prominent role during the Jubilee events it could draw public anger. It’s believed that Prince Charles and Prince William will intervene to make sure that doesn’t happen and derail the celebrations.
Who will be appearing on the balcony with Queen Elizabeth?
So we know who won’t be standing on the royal balcony with Queen Elizabeth waving and smiling to the crowds below. But who will be?
The Palace released a statement that the royals “invited” on the balcony include Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, as well as Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, and her husband, Sir Tim Lawrence, will also make a balcony appearance as will the monarch’s youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
A few lesser-known royals like the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, are also expected to be on the balcony with the queen that day.
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