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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Juliana Piskorz

Harry and Meghan: everything we know about their Jubilee visit to the UK

Harry and Meghan are set to jet into the UK for the Jubilee

(Picture: PA Wire)

After months of meticulous planning, amaretti trifle baking and stringing up bunting, the Jubilee weekend is finally upon us.

But the big question still remains: what role will Meghan and Harry have in all the celebrations? Today, after much will they, won’t they speculation, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to jet into the UK. Though they will reportedly be keeping a “low profile”, in order to not to upstage The Queen.

The Sussexes’ return to the UK marks their first public appearance together in the UK since their departure for California in March 2020. Although the couple paid a private visit to the Queen in April this year before the Invictus Games in Holland.

Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK also marks the first time their youngest daughter Lilibet, 11 months, will meet her great-grandmother the Queen and grandfather Prince Charles, as well as taking her first steps on British soil.

The Sussexes are due to fly into the UK today and will be staying at their former residence Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, which is currently being rented by Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and their one-year-old son August.

Despite their return, Prince Harry, Meghan, and their two children will not be appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping of the Colour on Thursday, after Her Majesty announced that would be reserved for working royals only. This includes Prince William and Kate, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince Edward and Sophie.

However, according to Buckingham Palace after “careful consideration” the Queen has made exceptions for Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, her two youngest grandchildren Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, whose parents are the Duke and Duchess of Wessex. Prince Louis, Charlotte and George will also be on the iconic balcony overlooking the Mall.

Meanwhile, the Sussexes and rest of the royal family, including Prince Andrew, are expected to watch the military parade from the royal box in the grandstand, at the Queen Victoria Memorial, outside the palace.

Harry and Meghan are expected to make an official appearance the following day at the service of thanksgiving for the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral and the open-air concert to be held at Buckingham Palace on Saturday evening. The Platinum Party features a roster of performances by musical legends including Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys and Nile Rogers.

Her Majesty is expected to celebrate her youngest grandchild and namesake Lilibet’s first birthday in a more intimate setting on Saturday. This is expected to be the first time the monarch meets her granddaughter. ​​There has been speculation that Harry and Meghan will host a small birthday party for Lilibet at Frogmore Cottage in the afternoon before the open-air concert, which the Queen will forego her favourite horse racing event the Epsom Derby to attend.

The Jubilee celebrations will round off on Sunday with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant procession, which will include a musical tribute by Ed Sheeran, a 3D bust of the Queen and puppet corgis.

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