Harry and Meghan Make First Public Appearance at Queen's Platinum Jubilee
The queen herself skipped the event at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London due to difficulties getting around that have limited the 96-year-old monarch’s public engagements in recent months
By Danica Kirka ••
NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were all smiles as they arrived at the National Service of Thanksgiving to honor the Queen at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, joined other members of Britain’s royal family on Friday for a church service honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, making their first public appearance in the U.K. since stepping back from royal duties two years ago.
The queen skipped the event at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which came on the second of four days of festivities marking her Platinum Jubilee. The 96-year-old monarch has had difficulty moving around in recent months and experienced “some discomfort” after smiling and waving to throngs of supporters from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon.
But royal watchers quickly shifted their focus to Harry and Meghan, who held hands as they walked down the long central aisle accompanied only by a military officer in a scarlet dress tunic. Other guests craned their necks to watch the couple take their places in the second row, underscoring their lesser roles as non-working members of the royal family.
Prince Charles, who represented the queen, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, had special chairs in the front row on the other side of the central aisle. Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge were seated next to them.
Harry and Meghan sparked tensions within the royal family when they moved to California and signed lucrative media contracts. The rift deepened after they made allegations of racism and bullying in the royal household. But they flew back to Britain for the jubilee celebrations, bringing their son, Archie, and daughter, Lilibet, who had never met her great grandmother the queen.
“This is, again, Elizabeth II trying to put on a united front, bringing her family together one last time, probably, during her reign, so that ... handing over to the next monarch, she can be seen to have done at least publicly her best to try and unite the divisions that have opened up within the family group over the last couple of years,” Ed Owens, author of “The Family Firm: Monarchy Mass Media and the British Public 1932-53'' said in an interview before the jubilee.
The service of thanksgiving took place a day after the celebrations opened with the glittering military parade known as Trooping the Color, an event that has marked the sovereign’s official birthday for some 260 years.
Following the event, tens of thousands of royal supporters cheered wildly as Elizabeth joined other senior royals on the palace balcony and 70 military aircraft roared overhead in salute.
The queen doggedly appeared later in the evening outside her home at Windsor Castle for the final moments of an international beacon lighting ceremony. Moving slowly and with some difficulty she pressed an illuminated globe that sent a river of lights flooding toward Buckingham Palace, where a sculpture of living trees was lit up.
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The Red Arrow aerial display team flies towards Buckingham Palace during a flypast to celebrate the first day of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, on June 02, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952.
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Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, as they watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service.
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Prince Louis covers his ears from the balcony of Buckingham Place during a fly-past after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP
People pack the Mall as the British Royal family come onto the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
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Members of the Household Division Foot Guards’ bands march past Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
AP Photo/David Cliff
A young royal fan smiles as she stands alongside the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP
Members of the Household Division Foot Guards’ bands march past Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
AP Photo/David Cliff
Police officers remove a man who ran into the path of the royal procession on The Mall, London, ahead of the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
AP Photo/David Cliff
Royal fans gather along the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
AP Photo/David Cliff
Royal fans sing the national anthem as they gather along the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
AP Photo/David Cliff
Royal fans walk alongside the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge ride in a carriage during the Trooping the Color, in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
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Prince George, left, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte ride in a carriage during the Trooping the Color, in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP
Members of the Household Division Foot Guards march past Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Richard Pohle, Pool Photo via AP
The Kings troop of the royal horse artillery ride down the Mall on their way to fire ceremonial gun in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Anadolu Agency
Princess Anne (R), the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and her husband Timothy Laurence attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a National Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, 2022 in London, England.
Mark Cuthbert
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queens reign at St Pauls Cathedral on June 3, 2022 in London, England.
Samir Hussein
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in
Finnbarr Webster
Participants wave flags during the town’s street party on June 03, 2022 in Swanage, United Kingdom.
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Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William during the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 in London, England.
AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool
Alicia Keys performs at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP
Images of Queen Elizabeth II are projected onto Buckingham Palace as Duran Duran perform during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
WPA Pool
Members of the public attend the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, on June 4, 2022 in London, England.
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Sadiq Khan, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles and guests attend the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 in London, England.
AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool
Rod Stewart performs at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
WPA Pool
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Projected images of Queen Elizabeth II are seen during the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Henry Nicholls – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Chris Jackson
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: (L-R) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge during the Platinum Party at the Palace in front of Buckingham Palace on June 04, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WPA Pool
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles speak on stage during the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 in London, England.
WPA Pool
Alicia Keys performs during the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, on June 4, 2022 in London, England.
Though the palace said she had enjoyed the festivities, the queen apparently decided that another trip from Windsor back into London on Friday might be a bit much. Prince Charles again stood in for his mother at the church service, as he has often done of late.
But the queen was still part of the service as participants assumed she was watching on television.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell spoke directly to her in his sermon, playfully riffing on her love of horse racing.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any great tips for the Derby tomorrow, but since the scriptures describe life as a race set before us, let me observe that your long reign reflects the distance of Aintree rather than the sprints of Epsom …,’’ he joked. “But with endurance, through times of change and challenge, joy and sorrow, you continue to offer yourself in the service of our country and the commonwealth."
“Your Majesty, we’re sorry you’re not with us this morning, but we are so glad you are still in the saddle,'' he added. “And we are all glad that there is still more to come.’’
Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family stepped out on the balcony at Buckingham Palace Thursday at the start of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
