Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Excluded From Palace Balcony For Jubilee Celebration

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex just confirmed their attendance in Her Royal Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The event will reportedly kick off on June 2 with the "Trooping The Colour" and carry on into the weekend till the special parade across Central London on June 5.

While Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, were invited to the festivities, the palace released a statement which showed that only working Royal family members would be a part of the balcony appearance during the special parade. The couple stepped back from their official duties to the Royal family in 2020

So this statement disallows them and also Prince Andrew from joining the rest of the Royal family on the palace balcony. Prince Andrew was previously forced to step down from his duties as a Royal after the scandal with Jeffery Epstein and being embroiled in sexual assault allegations.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed (Via People) that the couple would attend the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the UK. They will reportedly bring their children Archie, two, and Lilibet, 1, along.

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children," the representative said.

Earlier, a representative of the Buckingham Palace released a statement that disallowed the royal couple from making an appearance on the palace balcony beside Her Majesty and other key royals.

The spokesperson for Buckingham Palace revealed that only working royals would appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony during her annual public birthday celebration and "Trooping the Colour" ceremony. This signified that neither the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children nor Prince Andrew and his daughters would be in attendance.

"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," the spokesperson said.

The royals invited to join the Queen are limited to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Royal and Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

The Queen's birthday celebration will kick off on June 2 and start a long weekend to mark Her Majesty's 70 years. The weekend will wrap up with a special parade past central London on June 5.

The yearly parade, known as the "Trooping The Colour," is a vital part of the entire four-day celebration. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on the second and the 1st battalion, Irish Guards, and over 1200 officers from the Household Division will display the military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade. They're being joined by Army musicians in the hundreds and about 240 horses.

Although the Sussexes won't be among the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony, they are sure to appear at the Service of Thanksgiving on June 3. People reported, "Traditionally, members of the extended family have attended the Thanksgiving Service at the Jubilees— most recently of 10 and 20 years ago."

Being the most senior members of the Royal family, Prince William and Kate Middleton will reportedly lead the celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the Uk. The couple will reportedly head out of London during the celebratory weekend.

The Prince and the Duchess will reportedly go to Wales, where they exchanged their vows and lived a few years ago. Princess Anne will head to Scotland while The Countess of Wessex, Sophie, and Prince Edward will go to Northern Ireland.

Buckingham Palace announced in a statement, "Over the course of the Central Weekend, Members of the Royal Family will visit the Nations of the United Kingdom to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Members of the Royal Family will attend engagements in each nation, including public events marking the occasion."

During the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, the Queen and her late husband, Prince Philip, traveled across Britain on the Royal train. However, a similar trip wasn't possible this year because of the monarch's advance in age. The Queen now mainly attends to less arduous activities at Windsor Castle.