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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alan Johnson

Excited Queen 'looking forward' to finally seeing Archie and Lilibet at Platinum Jubilee

The Queen is to welcome Harry and Meghan to Windsor Castle next week as the entire Royal Family gathers to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, 11 months, are set to stay at their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.

Sources told the Daily Mail the 96-year-old monarch is 'looking forward' to seeing her great-grandchildren and is likely to spend time with them privately next Saturday, as Lilibet celebrates her first birthday.

Prior to that, Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, will attend the national Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.

The Queen meeting newborn Archie in 2019 (PA)

The couple are likely to be in attendance in at least one other public engagement across the weekend Bank Holiday weekend, but sources have warned that the public 'not to expect them at every event' with decisions on attendance likely to be confirmed on the day.

There have been suggestions the pair could be in the VIP section to watch Thursday's 'Trooping the Colour: The Queen’s Birthday Parade' at Horse Guard's Parade. Only working Royals are given the privilege of appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the service, however.

It is likely the Sussexes will also spend time privately with other members of the Royal Family - including Prince Charles - who is yet to meet granddaughter, Lilibet.

It will also be the first time the Prince of Wales has seen grandson Archie since he was a baby.

Meghan and Harry are expected to bring Archie and Lilibet to the UK for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee (alexilubomirski/Instagram)

It remains unclear at this stage if the four will spend time alone with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children, George, eight, Charlotte, seven, and Louis, four.

William was widely believed to have been hit hardest by his brother's decision to "step back as 'senior' members" of the Royal Family in January 2020.

Since then Meghan has hardly seen any of the Royals, whilst Harry has only briefly seen his grandmother, father and brother.

It is not yet known, meanwhile, if Harry and Meghan will be accompanied by a Netflix camera crew or personal photographers to document their trip.

A spokesman for the pair simply said: "The duke and duchess are excited and honoured to attend the Jubilee celebrations."

Royal expert Duncan Larcombe said it will be interesting to see the public's mood towards the couple should they make any public appearances.

He explained: "May be the only chance we get to see a glimpse of both [Harry and Meghan]... we can expect to see massive crowds... thousands and thousands of people that you would describe as royalists, who love the pomp and ceremony.

"The reality is... Harry and Meghan are very divisive characters... It will be fascinating to see the reaction and mood of the public [towards them]."

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