London(UK)- After making their way to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to reunite with the senior royals Friday.
The pair, who were not on the balcony during Thursday’s Trooping The Colour, will attend the service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral Friday morning for Queen Elizabeth’s continued Platinum Jubilee celebrations honouring her 70 years on the throne.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the United Kingdom this week in honour of the monarch and were seen celebrating with royal family members at the Trooping the Colour parade. They were not permitted on the balcony, which was designated for working senior royal members.
Despite not appearing on the balcony, both Harry and Meghan were caught on camera shushing a few younger royals in a moment that has since turned viral.
“At the moment, Prince Harry and Meghan are enormously unpopular in the U.K. In a recent poll, an astounding 87% of respondents said they would actually boo Harry and Meghan if they showed up on the palace balcony alongside the rest of the royals.”
However, he noted that Prince Harry and his brother Prince William “are at least doing their best to appear to be getting along” for their “grandmother’s sake.”
According to another royal expert, during the Trooping The Colour, the people were looking out for the former senior royals – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – as they have been the topic of debate since stepping back from their roles two years ago, per Neil Sean.
All eyes will be on the Sussexes, William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and other members of the royal family as they appear at the cathedral on Friday.
The cathedral was home to thanksgiving services for the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country — which was made in 1882 and restored in 2021 — will be rung for the service. The bell has tolled on eight occasions, but this is the first royal occasion for which it will be rung.
Services begin at 11:30 a.m. with Bible readings, prayers and hymns, and a new anthem by Judith Weir, Master of the queen’s music, including words from the third chapter of the Book of Proverbs.
Royals in attendance are then expected at a reception at the Guildhall hosted by Lord Mayor beginning at 12:25 p.m.
Despite the queen’s attendance at the Trooping the Colour event Thursday that honoured her 96th birthday, the palace issued a statement saying Elizabeth would not attend Friday’s church service.
“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s birthday parade and flypast but did experience some discomfort,” the statement said.
“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s national service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.
The Queen is looking forward to participating in tonight’s beacon lighting event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion.”
Last month, the palace shared that the queen’s attendance at events throughout the Platinum Jubilee weekend would likely be confirmed on “the day itself,” and Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton were tapped to lead the Jubilee celebrations as the most senior members of the royal family.
Harry and Meghan stepped away from frontline royal duties and moved to California in 2020, nearly two years after they married at Windsor Castle amid a host of familial allegations.