Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still make appearances at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations despite being banned from appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
It has been announced that at the Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour event, the balcony appearance will be limited to working members of the Queen's family.
The monarch’s decision to only include royals carrying out official public duties was taken “after careful consideration”, Buckingham Palace said.
However, despite the seeming snub, Harry and Meghan have confirmed that they will come to the UK to attend the Jubilee celebrations this summer and will also bring their children Archie and Lilibet - who has yet to meet her great grandmother the Queen.
A spokesperson for the couple said: "Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children."
It will be the first time Harry and Meghan have brought their family to the UK since leaving for the US.
And a palace source said the couple would be welcome to come to the celebrations and make appearances over the bumper-bank holiday weekend next month.
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.”
The Palace refused to be drawn on whether there would be a second balcony appearance as a finale after the Pageant on Sunday.
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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.”
Trooping the Colour – the sovereign’s official birthday parade – will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities, with 18 members of the royal family set to gather on the famous frontage, with the Queen “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.”
Joining the Queen on the balcony for Trooping will be Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Also set to appear for the historic occasion will be Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and the Wessexes’ children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The head of state has made an exception for Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim, who is not a working royal, and 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.”
