When it was announced that the traditional royal balcony appearance on the first day of the Platinum Jubilee would be limited to those royals that were contributing to the 96-year-old Queen ’s current working life it seemed like a genius idea.
All eyes would be on the RAF’s Jubilee flypast and all eyes would be looking to see who was present and why.
The Queen will be central and will be joined by her son and heir and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.
The hardworking Princess Royal and her husband Tim Laurence and the elderly Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra are also going to be present.
The Queen’s youngest son the Earl of Wessex will be there with Sophie and their children.
Runners up will be the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who since the Queen’s frailer health have taken on many more engagements.
No need to worry about the potential embarrassment of what to do with the Duke of York or indeed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
But a short time later Harry and Meghan were in on the act.
Their spokesperson released a little missive saying they were “excited and honoured” to be invited to attend the Jubilee celebrations with their children Archie who celebrated his third birthday today and Lilibet who is one and a half.
At least they just managed to wait until Buckingham Palace had released their own plans including that all important balcony line up.
They are expected to attend the service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s along with the extended royal family and it will be interesting to see if their placement in the cathedral meets with their approval.
When they last attended a family service, they were not happy with their positioning.
Let’s hope that as the Queen has been generous enough to describe them as “much-loved family members”, they have realised this time it is not all about them.
