THE Queen yesterday sensationally banned Harry, Meghan and Andrew from joining her on the Buckingham Palace balcony for her Platinum Jubilee.
The momentous line-up to mark her 70 years on the throne will instead be limited to just “working royals”, including Charles and William.
Insiders say the snub is a direct response to her grandson Harry and wife Meghan’s behaviour since they quit as senior royals in 2020 for a life in the US, including trashing the family to Oprah Winfrey.
Within minutes of the bombshell announcement, the Sussexes declared they would be attending the summer celebrations — after months of indecision.
And royal experts fear the “downgraded” couple, being filmed for a Netflix documentary, could now overshadow the four-day extravaganza in June.
Biographer Tom Bower said: “They have been forced to accept a downgraded role — grouped with all the other VIPs — but are clearly desperate not to be excluded. If the Palace is not remarkably careful, the Sussexes will milk the celebrations for their own benefit.
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“Hopefully, the Sussexes will be kept firmly in check to avoid their selfish interests dominating the celebration of the Queen’s awe- inspiring service to Britain.”
Angela Levin, who wrote a book on Harry, added: “The Platinum Jubilee arrangements seem to be a messy mix-up. The will-they-won’t-they theme for Harry and Meghan and Netflix which is going on at the moment will ruin what we hoped the Jubilee will be all about, which is to celebrate our Queen. Huge shame.”
It is understood the Sussexes had hoped to join the Queen on the balcony and the issue was reportedly discussed at crunch talks in Windsor Castle last month.
But Buckingham Palace said yesterday: “After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those Members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen.”
It means her son Andrew, who was cast out of The Firm amid a long-running sex abuse lawsuit, is also being cut out of the lineup, along with his children.
The Queen is understood to have made the decision after close discussions with her son Prince Charles — who is known to favour a slimmed-down monarchy when he takes the throne — and her grandson William.
A spokeswoman for Harry and Meghan immediately countered that they are “excited and honoured” to be attending the celebrations with children Archie, who turned three yesterday, and Lilibet, 11 months, who the Queen has never met.
Asked in April if he and Meghan would be there, Harry replied: “I don’t know yet. There’s lots of things with security issues and everything else.”
It will be the first time post-pandemic the Windsors have appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony, with the last occasion being the Queen’s birthday parade in 2019.
Joining the Queen for her Jubilee will be Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate plus kids, Prince Edward and Sophie with their children, Princess Anne and hubby Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
Andrew’s omission comes after he took a central role during Prince Philip’s memorial at Westminster Abbey — despite being stripped of his military titles and royal patronages earlier this year.
He accompanied the Queen to the service in March after settling a sex abuse case in the US with Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for an unconfirmed sum.
The decision means Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie will not be there, and neither will Anne’s daughter Zara and her hubby Mike Tindall.
It is understood that several family members — including Harry and Meghan — will be welcome at other events during the Jubilee celebrations, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
A Palace source said: “Other family members will be invited to events. We’ve always made that clear and they’re likely to be public events.”
After secretly flying to the UK to meet his grandmother last month, Harry sparked dismay by speaking about it during an interview on US television.
In what was thought to be a veiled attack on Andrew’s role with the Queen at Philip’s memorial, Harry said he was “making sure she’s protected and has got the right people around her”.
Meghan also appeared to make a jibe at the Queen, who said in 2020 the couple would not “continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service”.
She told an audience at the Invictus Games: “This is service.”
The Jubilee will likely see warring brothers Harry and William reunited for the first time since a frosty get-together at their mother Diana’s statue unveiling last July
The Trooping the Colour parade on June 2 kicks off the four-day Bank Holiday.
The Queen is also expected to attend a church service on Friday and go to the Epsom Derby on Saturday, with decisions on other appearances likely to be confirmed on the day.
The Platinum Party at the Palace, broadcast live on the BBC, will see a host of musical stars perform on the Saturday night.
More than 60,000 people are then set to attend The Big Jubilee Lunch nationwide on Sunday with a flagship event at The Oval.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will then finally evoke the Queen’s coronation in 1952, featuring The Gold State Coach in a route around Buckingham Palace.
Thursday
JUNE 2: Trooping the Colour parade from 11am with a royal gun salute fired during the procession.
The Royal Family will then gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony before an RAF fly-past.
Later, more than 2,000 beacons will be lit across the UK — with lighting installation Tree of Trees taking pride of place outside the palace.
Friday
JUNE 3: National Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral from 11.30am.
It will feature a new anthem written for the occasion.
Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will be rung for the service from 10.50am.
It is the first time the bell, which was cast in 1882, has been rung for a royal occasion since it was restored last year.
Saturday
JUNE 4: Members of the Royal Family will attend the Epsom Derby, with the Queen said to be especially keen to be at what has become her favourite racing event.
Later, the Platinum Party at the Palace will feature famous faces performing in a night of musical tributes in front of 22,000 people.
It will be from 8pm to 10.30pm and shown live on BBC One.
Sunday
JUNE 5: Closing the weekend, will be the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry will lead the Gold State Coach through central London to Buckingham Palace.
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Celebrities, volunteers, performers and key workers will take part.
Street parties will be held across the country — and the Commonwealth — for the Big Jubilee Lunch.
