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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Tim Hanlon & Katie Williams

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'missed Jubilee event to avoid mixing with royals'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly missed a Jubilee event after arriving in the UK together for the first time in over two years.

The couple arrived on Wednesday to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 year's reign.

They are thought to be keeping a low profile so as not to take attention away from Her Majesty.

READ MORE- Edinburgh Jubilee celebrations: What time do they start and what events are running

But plenty of eyes were on them, as the Mirror reports, when they made their first appearance at Trooping the Colour on Thursday and then the Thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral.

A royal aide said that while they were happy to see Prince Charles they had no desire to meet the Cambridges, William and Kate, at a Jubilee reception afterwards.

Harry and Meghan were happy to swing by Clarence House to see Charles on the way to St Paul’s. But afterwards they were less keen to spend time hobnobbing with the family at the reception where they would rub shoulders with William and Kate,” they told The Sun.

The gathering of nearly 50 royals including Harry and Meghan was invited to a special celebratory reception at the Guildhall after.

But the Sussexes, who were thought to have returned to their Frogmore Cottage base, chose not to attend, as did the Princess Anne, who carried on with her royal duties, feeding penguins on a visit to Edinburgh Zoo.

On Saturday, the Royals and public were treated to the Jubilee live concert where the iconic band Queen and Diana Ross headlined, along with a number of other acts.

As the Sussexes no longer use their HRH styles after stepping down from royal duties, their relegated seats in St Paul's reflected their change in status.

Working royals fill the front-row seats and far across the aisle from the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Harry and Meghan sat in the second row, behind the Wessex family and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

They did however make a solo procession, holding each other’s hand, down the nave of St Paul’s Cathedral, after the rest of the mass of more than 40 royals and before future king Charles and the Cambridges.

They were personally escorted by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Matheson of Matheson, the Queen’s Senior Gentleman Usher.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt reflected: “For the briefest of moments, Harry and Meghan were back being active Windsors.

“The institution didn’t crumble. The royals need them, but are unlikely to acknowledge what they’ve lost given the hurt felt by all sides.”

There was a throwback to the Harry fans know and love.

The Duke jokingly pulled an open mouthed face at other members of his family across the aisle, most likely his cousin Zara Tindall and her husband, former rugby player Mike.

He was also seen laughing as he sat next to Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank, who appeared red in the face as he chuckled.

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