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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Little-known royal Queen wants on Jubilee balcony - despite banning Meghan, Harry and Andrew

After "careful consideration", the Queen has decided to only invite working royals to join her on the balcony for the famous Trooping the Colour moment at her Platinum Jubilee.

The historic moment will the see the Monarch, three of her four children and a small group of her senior grandchildren and great-grandchildren wave to well-wishers as part of the celebrations.

The entire family is normally invited up for the annual Trooping the Colour highlight, however it will be a much smaller crowd this year.

The Queen's new rule means Prince Andrew won't be allowed to take part, nor Meghan Markle and Prince Harry if they decide to return to the UK for the four-day long event.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday, a spokesman said: "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."

However the Queen has made an exception for one non-working royal, her son-in-law, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Three of the Queen's great-grandchildren - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and her two youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, will also be there, however their non-working royal status is slightly different as they are children.

Do you think Andrew, Harry and Meghan should be allowed on the balcony? Have your say in the comment section below.

The spokesman said: “In addition the Cambridge and Wessex children are also expected to appear as is Sir Tim Laurence, who the Queen is happy to attend as a frequent attendee and support for the Princess Royal on official engagements.”

They will join the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra on the balcony for the special occasion.

Andrew stepped down from public duties in 2019 and just weeks ago paid millions out of court to settle a civil sexual assault case.

He was stripped of his honorary military titles and forced to no longer use his HRH style, but he played a key role in March when he escorted his mother to the Duke of Edinburgh’s thanksgiving service.

Harry and Meghan quit as senior working royals amid the Megxit saga, but there was speculation they might return to the UK to attend the Jubilee celebrations.

Andrew and the Sussexes could still make an appearance during other parts of the weekend.

A Palace source said: “Other family members will be invited to events. We’ve always made that clear and they are likely to be public events.”

The Palace refused to be drawn on whether there would be a second balcony appearance as a finale after the Pageant on Sunday.

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