UK

The royals will visit all parts of the UK over the bank holiday Jubilee weekend, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Wales, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Northern Ireland and the Princess Royal will be in Scotland. All will attend public events marking the platinum anniversary.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are likely to be in the capital over the four-day weekend in June, at official commemorations of the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Harry and Meghan confirmed on Friday, also their son Archie’s third birthday, that they were “excited and honoured” to attend events marking the monarch’s milestone, with their eldest child and his sister Lilibet.

However, it is not yet known which engagements the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will participate in.

During her Diamond Jubilee celebrated in 2012 the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made an extensive tour of the country over a three-month period.

For the 2022 celebrations, it has been announced a gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Trooping the Colour ceremony, will be limited to just working royals – with the Duke of York and Harry and Meghan omitted from the line-up.

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The monarch’s decision to only include royals carrying out official public duties was taken “after careful consideration”, Buckingham Palace said.

The symbolic move is likely to be interpreted as a snub to the Sussexes, who quit the monarchy for a new life in the US two years ago, and to Andrew, who was cast out of the institution over his civil sexual assault case.

Trooping the Colour, the sovereign’s official birthday parade, is on 2 June and will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities, with 18 members of the family set to gather on the famous frontage, with the Queen “looking forward” to the weekend of celebrations.

A Palace spokesman said: “After careful consideration, the Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday June 2 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.”

There will be no ceremonial journey to the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 3 June, and the 96-year-old monarch, who is facing mobility issues, will use a different entrance rather than scaling the steep steps.

The 18th century Gold State Coach will appear on the streets of London for the first time in 20 years when it leads the Jubilee Pageant procession on Sunday 5 June.

Archive film footage of Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day will be shown on the remodelled windows to evoke the image of the young monarch travelling the coach.

With the Queen expected to appear on the balcony for Trooping, attend the church service and the Epsom Derby, decisions on her appearances across the weekend are not likely to be confirmed until the day.

A Palace spokesman said: “The Queen is looking forward to the weekend and will be taking part in the celebrations but her presence will not be confirmed until much nearer the time or even on the day itself.”

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