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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Secrets of Meghan Markle and Harry's first day at Jubilee - lunch reunion and VIP view

After months of frosty relations, shocking accusations and missed moments, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have finally reunited with the royal family.

The couple are in the UK with their children, Archie and Lilibet, to join the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and they attended the first major event - Trooping the Colour.

While they weren't part of the official carriage procession or Buckingham Palace balcony moment, they did have some of the best views in the house with other less-senior royals.

They were spotted watching the festivities out of the window and interacting with some of their younger relatives.

And Meghan and Harry also had the first possible opportunity to introduce their daughter Lilibet to her namesake, however it's not yet been confirmed if this special meeting has happened yet.

Meghan Markle with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall (© Kelvin Bruce)

We take a look at everything we know about the first day of their Jubilee visit.

Follow the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in our live blog here

Keeping a low profile

We didn't really know how much we would see of Meghan and Harry during the Jubilee celebrations, and it's fair to say they managed to stay out of the spotlight for the first day at least.

He also said that Harry and Meghan hope to be as "low-profile as possible" during their trip to the UK for The Platinum Jubilee.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie, one of the authors of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's biography Finding Freedom, told BBC Breakfast: "I spoke with people close to the couple... who said that they want to be as low-profile as possible during this trip.

"It's almost hard to believe, but I think yesterday Trooping the Colour was a great example. We didn't really catch sight of them on TV cameras."

VIP views for Trooping the Colour

The Sussexes weren't part of the official Trooping the Colour proceedings, however that doesn't mean they were stuck at home watching it on the TV.

The Queen invited members of her family not part of the public event to watch from one of the balconies at the Horses Guard, and they could be seen peering out the window.

Princess Eugenie shared videos of special guests and royals watching the flypast from the roof, so it's likely that Meghan and Harry joined them for the special moment.

Eugenie was joined by husband Jack Brooksbank and son August (instagram.com/princesseugenie)
Princess Eugenie watching the RAF flypast from what appears to be the Buckingham Palace roof (instagram.com/princesseugenie)

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo, the Tindall children and Eugenie's son August were also part of the excited group.

The Sussexes didn't arrive on the carriages with the Cambridges and other members of The Firm, instead making the journey in a Land Rover with tinted windows. However they rolled down the windows and were seen waving and smiling at well-wishers.

Lunch with royals

After yesterday's Trooping the Colour festivities, Meghan and Harry joined the Queen and other senior royals for a special lunch at Buckingham Palace to mark the occasion.

This would have given them a proper opportunity to sit down and chat.

There are reports that the Queen attended, however it's not clear who else was there. The Cambridges, Prince Charles, Camilla, the York sisters and their families, the Tindalls and the Wessexes were all in the viewing room so are likely attendees.

Meeting with Queen?

There have been mixed reports about whether the Queen has meet her great-grandmother yet.

Omid said: "I think people are expecting some sort of big birthday extravagant event, that we're going to see photographs from. From what I'm told, we shouldn't expect anything.

"Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she's been looking forward to it.

The Queen beamed throughout yesterday's celebrations (PA)

"They've been held back by a pandemic. Of course the times that Harry has been here it's just been by himself for quite sombre occasions. And so this really was the first time.

"Of course we know the Queen went back to Windsor Castle yesterday, the couple went back to Windsor as well where they're staying at Frogmore Cottage.

"So that would have been the first moment or the first chance for her to meet her namesake."

Sweet interactions with kids

Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror Meghan was "in her element" mucking around with the younger royals as they watched Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade.

Meghan with some of the royal youngsters at Trooping the Colour today (© Kelvin Bruce)

She was seen jokingly shushing them, which they returned, before Harry joined them to do the same.

The couple were with Savannah and Isla Phillips and Mia and Lena Tindall, with Princess Beatice and Edo spotted just behind them.

Recycled wedding outfit?

We couldn't see all of Meghan's Trooping the Colour outfit, but based on her spectacular hat it was a showstopper.

Fans think this was her Trooping the Colour dress? (Getty Images)

She appeared to be wearing a navy dress, complimented by the white hat with a navy blue bow.

And some eagle-eyed fans believe Meghan rewore the off-the-shoulder navy she donned on the eve of her royal wedding back in 2018.

She was seen wearing the stunning Roland Mouret dress when she arrived at her hotel with mum Doria Ragland ready to spend her final night as a non-royal.

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