Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be keeping a low profile this weekend amid royal aides’ concerns their return to the UK could overshadow the Queen’s celebrations, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in town for the platinum jubilee celebrations.
To avoid the public glare they have travelled with a small number of their security teams, with their most trusted people staying in California.
And to ensure their visit goes without a hitch - and Harry’s beloved grandmother enjoys her celebrations to the fullest- the couple will be “keeping it simple”.
ITV's royal editor Chris Ship said: "After a turbulent couple of years since the Sussexes left as working royals and relocated to California, their arrival this week for the Queen’s national celebrations was a cause of great concern for royal aides.
Follow live updates of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations here
"So the couple will fly into Harry’s home country with their two children - but without any of their senior staff.
"They are leaving the most trusted members of their team in the United States and will travel with just a limited number of security personnel."
A source previously said of the couple: “There has been further contact between the Duke and members of his family, but any talk of them planning to cause a scene or detract from the Queen’s celebrations is nonsense.
“They are here to see family and enjoy what will undoubtedly be an incredible moment in history.”
This weekend is only the second time Meghan has returned to the UK in more than two years since the couple dramatically quit their royal roles in 2020.
The Sussexes were picked up by a Land Rover sent by the Queen after they arrived by private jet from California for the Jubilee celebrations.
A convoy of cars took the family from Farnborough Airport to Frogmore Cottage , their home before they moved abroad.
The weekend could be an important one for the relationship between the Sussexes and the Queen.
On Saturday Her Majesty is said to be missing her favourite sporting event- the Derby- and instead will meet her great-granddaughter Lilibet for the first time.
The tot turns one on Saturday with the Queen set to attend as guest of honour.
Many royal commentators hope a photo opportunity will be afforded to the Queen and Lilibet as a gesture of goodwill after two years of friction and strained relationships between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
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.
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.
