‘Where are Archie and Lilibet?’: Fans call for glimpse of Meghan and Harry’s children
Royal fans today bemoaned the absence of Archie and Lilibet from the Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee celebrations as an animated Meghan Markle appeared to playfully ‘shush’ other children within the family.
The Duchess of Sussex, 40, chatted with 11-year-old Savannah Philips and her sister Isla, 10, together with Lena Tindall, three, and her older sister Mia, eight, as she appeared to joke that the girls should be quiet during the Trooping the Colour while it took place in the parade square below them.
Her husband Prince Harry, 37, also appeared to ‘shush’ the children in a separate photo, before the couple were seen talking to the Duke of Kent, who was dressed in his red military tunic, adorned with medals.
However, the non-appearance of the couple’s own children, Archie, three and Lilibet, who turns one on Saturday, was noted by many on social media.
One wrote: ‘I’m praying the Queen gets some time with Archie and Lilibet. She’s been waiting so long. I also hope that there is a special christening for Lilibet before Harry returns to the USA.’
Another tweeted: ‘Where is their family? I can understand the baby staying with the nanny, but where was Archie? Why wasn’t he at the window watching with the other children?’
A third added: ‘Queen Elizabeth n Louis on the balcony were just a grandmother n her grandson!! Wish Archie n Lilibet were with her!!’
Meghan Markle appeared to shush the royal children as she appeared on a balcony with Savannah and Isla Phillips and Lena and Mia Tindall
Prince Harry also appeared to shush the same group of young royals as they appeared at the window to watch Trooping the Colour
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been pictured at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but their children Archie (left) and Lilibet (right) are yet to be seen
Harry seemed to be in a morning suit, rather than the military uniforms his father Prince Charles and brother Prince William wore to the parade, after he was stripped of his honorary titles as part of his Megxit deal with the Queen to step away from royal duties.
Meghan joined her husband and royals including the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall to watch the spectacular military event from the Major General’s Office overlooking the Whitehall parade ground.
Their appearance ended months of speculation on whether the Sussexes would attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
However, while they appeared at Horse Guards Parade with some royals, they were absent when the Queen, Prince Charles, the Cambridges and their children watched the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony. The balcony appearance was reserved for working royals and their families.
The couple’s Jubilee appearance is their first official royal engagement in more than two years. They were expected to bring three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, nearly one, for the public family reunion, though their children have not yet been spotted.
Lilibet has not been introduced to the Queen, or her royal relatives, while Archie has not been in the UK since he was six months old, after his parents relocated to LA to pursuse their private enterprises, and a life outside the royal circle.
Meghan’s appearance came after Princes George and Prince Louis were spotted peeking from one of the windows overlooking Horse Guards Parade. They were joined by sister Princess Charlotte, and their mother Kate Middleton.
Louis was spotted waving at Prince William and Prince Charles as the parade took place. Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice appeared to point something out to the Cambridge children as they watched Trooping the Colour.
At one point, Princess Charlotte appeared to be told off by mother Kate as the young royal played with Mia Tindall.
Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla and Sophie Wessex were also seen at a window. But there was no sighing of disgraced Prince, Andrew, who received no invitation – even in a private capacity – after his fall from grace.
Prince Harry, sporting a suit, was spotted alongside Meghan as they had a conversation with the Duke of Kent near the balcony
Harry and Meghan’s jubilee appearance is their first official engagement in more than two years. They are expected to bring along three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, nearly one
The Duchess of Sussex was all smiles as she chatted with Savannah and Isla Phillips and Lena and Mia Tindall and appeared to be popular with the young royals
George was dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie for the occasion, while Louis was wearing a sailor-style white and navy top echoing an outfit worn by his father at the 1985 Trooping event.
Charlotte’s hair was down, dressed up with two fine plaits fastened with a blue ribbon, and she wore a cornflower dress. She peered out of the central window at Horse Guards Parade as Louis pointed out towards the ceremony.
They arrived at Horse Guards Parade alongside their mother and grandmother in a carriage. The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a white coat dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Philip Treacy. Riding horses were the Prince of Wales on George, the Duke of Cambridge on Derby and the Princess Royal on Sir John.
The Prince of Wales went ahead of the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal as they rode diagonally across the forecourt and under the arches of Horse Guards.
Charles wore his scarlet Colonel of the Welsh Guards uniform and green thistle sash riding a horse named George. William rode on Derby in his Irish Guards uniform and Anne on a horse named Sir John in her Colonel of the Blues and Royals uniform as part of the colourful parade.
Meanwhile, the Queen exclaimed ‘incredible!’ from the Buckingham Palace balcony in front of tens of thousands of cheering Britons as she made her first apperance.
The 96-year-old monarch, who wore her Guards brooch and the blue Angela Kelly outfit used in her official Platinum Jubilee portrait released last night, took the salute this afternoon after arriving from Windsor Castle.
Royal superfans adorned themselves in Union flag clothing, flags and hats as they lined The Mall between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square – where large crowds also gathered – to watch the Queen‘s historic birthday parade kick off.
Groups were spotted cracking out glasses of Champagne and began singing God Save the Queen as early as 8am today – waking up the hardcore fans who had slept in chairs, tents and even on the pavement overnight to secure a prime spot for today’s celebrations.
Princess Charlotte pulls a face as she joins her brothers and her mother at a window at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour
Several young royals appeared at the window during the parade – with some older ones including Princess Beatrice also spotted
Prince Louis salutes as he watches Trooping the Colour with Princess Charlotte on a balcony at Horseguards Parade
The Duchess of Cambridge intervenes as Princess Charlotte plays with Mia Tindall as they watch Trooping the Colour from a balcony
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall watch the Trooping of the Color from a window
Princess Beatrice points something out to Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour
Princess Charlotte watches from a window as the Horse Guards Parade take place. She was joined by several other young royals
Louis was spotted waving at Prince William and Prince Charles as the parade took place. With mother Kate in the background
Kate, Camilla and Sophie Wessex all appeared at the window ahead of the official flyover. Meghan Markle also made an appearance
Some had even flown in from as far and wide as Australia, Canada and the United States specially for the historic event, while others flocked from European countries including Germany and Italy to soak in the momentus occasion.
The sun was shining and spirits were high among the crowds as members of the public chatted and joked with police maintaining the perimeter. Several handmade signs hung over the barriers, with one simply saying, ‘thank you’.
Crowds were packed eight rows deep as they scrambled to watch the celebrations and were desperately trying to get a view of the royal action on their phones.
As the pomp and pageantry got underway, crowds cheered and clapped loudly as troops in bright red uniforms and bearskin hats made their way down The Mall towards Horse Guard Parade.
And an even bigger cheer erupted as the royals made their way down The Mall in carriages, led the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, and a beaming Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, accompanied by her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
They were followed by Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, 14, and then Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and Prince Charles on horseback.
