Meghan And Harry Are Taking Part In Trooping The Colour In An Unexpected Way

The Sussexes have officially landed. Meghan and Harry reportedly arrived in the UK in an unexpected fashion, with Page Six noting the couple flew in on Wednesday after confirming their plans to attend the queen's Platinum Jubilee, alongside children Archie and Lilibet, just last month. A spokesperson confirmed, "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."

Since they gave up their status as working members of the royal family, the Sussexes won't be heavily involved in some of the more front-facing events over the weekend, but this will be the first time the family will get to meet Lilibet, so it's still a noteworthy occasion. There were security concerns involving them in recent months, which led to Harry admitting their presence at the event was not guaranteed. Thankfully, everything seems to have been sorted in the meantime.

The Mirror reports the celebrity couple has been given "cast iron assurances" their family will be secure. "For Harry, this has always been about protecting his family," a source clarified, adding, "He is satisfied the right procedures are in place and they are all very much looking forward to this week's celebrations and of course getting to spend time with Her Majesty." Moreover, the Sussexes won't be completely cast out of a major Jubilee event after all.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed, via The Guardian among many other outlets, that certain royals would not be accompanying the queen on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during her birthday celebrations. The annual event, known as Trooping the Colour, is especially important this year considering it's also the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Andrew are no longer working royals, so it's understandable they weren't invited onto the balcony. However, the Sussexes will be present at the event regardless.

Per People, not only will they be in attendance, but Meghan and Harry will get to watch the Horse Guards Parade from the Major General's Office, which offers a keen birds-eye view of the event. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will join them, alongside several other royal grandchildren. The couple's spokesperson confirmed they were looking forward to being there, and to getting a prime spot to watch the action unfold. 

Meghan and Harry defected from the royal family in 2020, so they can't join the queen on the balcony. They attended the event in 2018 and 2019, but this is their first family trip to the UK since relocating to California. According to The Sun, the Sussexes' biographer and friend, Omid Scobie, claimed in a piece for Yahoo! News that they never intended to be on the balcony in the first place, believing it wouldn't be appropriate.

Although the queen's decision not to have Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the balcony for Trooping the Colour was cheered by a majority of Britons, per Express, if certain whispers are to be believed, it wasn't entirely her choice. The outlet reports that, per The Daily Star, Princes Charles and William campaigned for the Sussexes' exclusion. According to an insider, "They feel that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have caused nothing but chaos since moving to America with their endless tell-alls and interviews throwing shade at the royal family." 

As a result, the father-son duo thinks "it would be hypocritical of Harry and Meghan acting all smiles and waving to the crowds from the balcony like they're one big happy family." The queen is adamant that nothing will disrupt her celebratory weekend, with Express noting royal expert Russell Myers confirmed as such during a recent appearance on "Lorraine." 

Myers acknowledged the past few years have been difficult for the royal family, with Megxit and Prince Andrew's sexual assault scandal. Thus, Her Majesty wants to focus on the importance of family throughout her Jubilee. "This is about everybody coming together and all about friends and family and having a good time," Myers noted, especially since the pandemic prevented them from mourning Prince Philip's heartbreaking death together.