Queen, looking forward to meeting Archie and Lili at the Platinum Jubilee
This time next week, the Queen will be in the midst of a platinum jubilee celebrating her first 70 years on the throne as British monarch.
It will also mark another first for the Queen, as she will meet for the first time Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, named after Her Majesty's family nickname. (Lili will turn one year old on June 4, exactly one week from today.)
And according to a report by Rebecca English in the Daily Mail, the Queen will welcome Prince Harry, Meghan, and their two children with open arms when they arrive in the UK. A source told the paper that Her Majesty wants the jubilee to be "an opportunity for the country to come together, including the Queen's own family," without the drama overshadowing the historic event.
According to the Daily Mail, the Sussexes will stay at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and will not attend "Trooping the Colour" on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but Harry and Meghan will be at St. Paul's Cathedral on Friday, June 3 They will attend a national thanksgiving service for the Queen. The paper reports, "It is understood that the Sussexes are likely to attend at least one other public event, but sources strongly warn that the public "should not expect them to attend all events."
According to the Mirror, it has been suggested that the Sussexes may watch "Trooping the Colour" from VIP seats, but they will not be on the balcony with the current royal family.
"They will also spend time with the royal family in private, including introducing the crown prince to Lilibet for the first time," the Daily Mail reports.
"She hasn't seen 3-year-old Archie since he was a baby. It is unclear whether the Sussexes will spend time alone with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children. William is known to have been hardest hit by his brother's betrayal.
The Queen wants the Jubilee to be for the monarchy as a whole, not for herself, reports the Daily Mail.
"Her Majesty is usually keen that the platinum jubilee is not a celebration of the Queen or her own longevity, but of the institution of the monarchy and the people who support and sustain it," a source told the Daily Mail. 'It's a chance for people to come together through what has been a very difficult time for the country. She doesn't want to do anything to overshadow that.
Duncan Larcombe, an expert on the royal family, said it would be interesting to see the public mood toward Harry and Meghan should they make a possible public appearance.
"It may be the only chance to catch a glimpse of both (Harry and Meghan). ...... Large crowds: ...... I expect to see thousands and tens of thousands of people who love the pomp and ceremony and who could be described as royalists," Larkom told the Mirror. "The reality is ...... Harry and Meghan are very divisive characters ...... (It will be interesting to see the public reaction [to them] and the mood."
The jubilee is set to celebrate the Queen, but in a truly pro-British affair: Britons are expected to spend £3 billion over the next weekend, with an estimated 16,000 street parties taking place across England, reports the Daily Mail.
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