Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's return to the UK for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is a big deal. It will be the first time the royal couple has attended a major royal event since they sensationally left their senior positions in the royal family in 2020 and subsequently moved to Montecito, California. Royal watchers did not expect to see Princess Meghan and Mr. and Mrs. Harry at Trooping the Colors on Thursday morning. That's because, due to their current position as non-senior members, it was firmly decided that the couple would not be posing for a traditional royal family balcony photo shoot. (Photos can be seen in the Daily Mail.)

In the photos, Princess Meghan jokes and plays with the royal children (Mike and Zara Tindell's children Mia and Lena and Peter Phillips' daughters Savannah and Ira), watching the Trooping the Color Parade. (Prince Harry was also in the background talking with the Duke of Kent). Princess Meghan looked gorgeous in a navy dress and also wore a large white hat with a navy bow to match her dress (the hat was by Stephen Jones, according to the Daily Mail).

So why were Meghan, Harry, and the others watching from the Major General's office rather than from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as is tradition? Well, the Queen announced last month that she and Buckingham Palace would be slimming down the group appearing on the balcony this year: "After careful consideration, the Queen has decided that this year's traditional Thursday, June 2 Trooping the Colour balcony appearance, with Her Majesty the Queen, decided to limit the appearance on the balcony to Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family who are currently on official duties on behalf of the Queen.

The chosen ones are:

(Side note: Prince Louis' expression during the flight is my favorite these days...)

Prince Harry and Meghan will make their first official royal appearances at the National Thanksgiving Service on Friday, the second day of the four-day Jubilee ceremony. Click here