The Queen is said to be limiting who can appear on the Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour balcony appearance to working members of her family. That means the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be in the royal line up.
Buckingham Palace has said that the decision to only let working members of the Royal family to be on the balcony was taken after "careful consideration”. However the move is set to be taken as a snub to Harry and Meghan who left the UK two years ago.
As for Andrew he was taken from Royal duties over his civil sexual assault case. As part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations Trooping The Colour will take place on June 2 and kick start the four day celebration of the historic occasion.
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18 members of the royal family are set to gather on the famous balcony with the Queen set to be “looking forward” the weekend of celebrations.
A Palace 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.”
Among the guests who will join Her Majesty on the balcony for Trooping will be the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Along with the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
The younger members of the Royal family are set to appear for the historic occasion including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Along with Wessexes’ children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
However the Queen has made an exception for Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim, who is not a working royal. That also applies to her two youngest grandchildren Lady Louise and James, and her Cambridge great-grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis.
The Palace spokesman added: “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.”
Back in 2019 Andrew stepped down from public duties 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.
However he played a key role in March when he accompanied his mother to the Duke of Edinburgh’s thanksgiving service. Harry and Meghan quit as senior working royals amid the Megxit saga.
Despite that there has been speculation that 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.” However the Palace refused to be drawn on whether there would be a second balcony appearance as a finale after the Pageant on Sunday.
A source reiterated past remarks about Harry and Meghan: “They are much loved members of the family and they would be invited to family events.”
With just a few weeks to go, the Palace has released further details. They include how the Jubilee arrangements have been tailored for the Queen’s comfort.
That includes no ceremonial journey to the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday June 3. Along with that the 96-year-old monarch, who is facing mobility issues, will use a different entrance rather than scaling the steep steps.
The 18th century Gold State Coach will appear on the streets of London for the first time in 20 years when it leads the Jubilee Pageant procession on Sunday June 5.
With this the Queen is expected to appear on the balcony for Trooping, attend the church service and the Epsom Derby. This means it is likely that decisions on her appearances across the weekend are not likely to be confirmed until the day.
A Palace spokesman said: “The Queen is looking forward to the weekend and will be taking part in the celebrations. But her presence will not be confirmed until much nearer the time or even on the day itself.”
It will be the first time in three years that the Windsors have appeared on the balcony since the start of the pandemic. The last time they appeared on the balcony was back in 2019 for the Queen’s official birthday parade.
Much has changed since 10 years ago when during the Diamond Jubilee, just six members of the royal family appeared. Those were the Queen, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and Harry – on the Palace balcony as part of a new slimmed down monarchy that meant Edward, Sophie, Anne and Andrew missed out.
