London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 26, 2026

Platinum Jubilee: Harry and Andrew will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony

Platinum Jubilee: Harry and Andrew will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony as part of opening celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The monarch will be joined on 2 June only by "members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties", Buckingham Palace said.

Despite not appearing on the balcony, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will travel to the UK for the Jubilee.

The Queen, 96, plans to attend some Jubilee events, the palace said.

But her attendance won't be confirmed until nearer the time, or even on the day, after mobility problems led her to cancel a number of appearances in recent months.

Harry and Meghan will not be on the balcony this time, but are travelling to the Jubilee


A spokesperson for the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex said they would be coming to the UK for the Jubilee with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

The couple were said to be "excited and honoured to attend the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations".

The Platinum Jubilee events, marking the Queen's 70-year reign, will take place over a four-day bank holiday on 2 to 5 June.

There had been speculation about who would take part in the iconic royal balcony scene at the start of the Jubilee weekend, watching a flypast and waving to the crowds at Trooping the Colour.

But Buckingham Palace said the Queen had decided that appearances on the balcony would be limited to "working royals", who carry out official royal duties, and their children - effectively ruling out Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Meghan.

Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in the wake of the now-settled civil sex assault case brought against him in the United States.

The Queen's decision reflects the principle that there will not be "half-in, half-out" royals - and will mean a changed line-up for such balcony appearances for the Royal Family.

On the balcony, along with the Queen, will be the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.

There will be music and entertainment at the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace


The group will also include the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, and Anne, the Princess Royal, and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, plus the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

While Prince Harry and Prince Andrew, and his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, will not be part of the balcony scene, they could attend other Jubilee events, such as the Jubilee Lunch or the thanksgiving service.

The Queen, who has mobility problems, has had to pull out of a number of recent events - and there have been questions about how much she will be able to participate in Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The latest update leaves the question open - with the Queen planning to take part in some of the events, but with nothing being confirmed until much closer to the time.

This includes the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral - and if the Queen attends she will not take part in a ceremonial procession to get there.

The Gold State Coach, used in the Queen's coronation, will be part of the Jubilee Pageant


Along with viewing Trooping the Colour, the Queen also plans to attend the Epsom Derby, which takes place on 4 June, during the long Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will see the re-appearance of the Gold State Coach, not seen on the streets of London for more than 20 years.

This was the 18th Century horse-drawn carriage used to carry the Queen to her coronation in 1953.


The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 - timetable of key events


Thursday 2 June - Queen's birthday parade and Trooping the Colour takes place - as Platinum Jubilee Beacons across in 2,000 towns and cities light up

Friday 3 June - National Service of Thanksgiving is held at St Pauls. Ringing of Great Paul, the restored biggest church bell in the country

Saturday 4 June - The Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse - and BBC Platinum Party at the Palace

Sunday 5 June - Big Jubilee Lunch and street parties. Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a procession and performance in central London, involving 10,000 people and the Gold State Coach

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Robert Jenrick Defends £5 Million Donation to Nigel Farage Amid Political Scrutiny
Plymouth Museum The Box Wins 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award
UK Government Faces Backlash Over Plans to Use Former Military Sites for Asylum Accommodation
Labour Party Faces Pressure Over Cabinet Stability as Senior Figures Clash on Policy Direction
Heathrow Airport Forecasts Passenger Decline in 2026 as Costs and Climate Disruption Mount
UK Energy Regulator Approves Expansion of Long-Duration Storage to Boost Power System Resilience
Crown Estate Reports Third Consecutive Year of £1 Billion Profit as Debate Over Royal Finances Intensifies
Teenager Charged With Murder in Wales Following Death of 14-Year-Old Boy
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Failures Trigger Calls for Public Inquiry Into Patient Safety
EasyJet Rejects £4.9 Billion Takeover Offer From Castlelake but Keeps Door Open for Further Talks
Record Heatwave Triggers UK Transport and Infrastructure Strain as Heathrow Revises Passenger Forecast Downward
Ofgem Approves Sixteen Long-Duration Energy Storage Projects to Strengthen UK Grid Stability
Labour Government Faces Internal Tensions Over Cabinet Decisions and Net Zero Policy Direction
British Food and Drink Exports Fall to Decade Low Amid Trade Friction and US Tariffs
Great Britain Grid Operator Spends £10 Million to Stabilize Electricity Supply During Heatwave Demand Surge
UK Parliament Committee Calls for Urgent National Adaptation Strategy as Extreme Heat Strains Public Infrastructure
Record-Breaking Heatwave Pushes England’s National Health Service to Critical Incident Status as Hospitals Struggle With Surge in Emergencies
UK Government Launches Review of Voluntary National Insurance Contributions System
UK Planning Inspectorate Reports Key Infrastructure and Planning Milestones in Annual Review
UK Government Reviews Travel Expense Reimbursement Rates for Employers and Employees
Civil Nuclear Constabulary Launches National Digital Memorial for Officers Killed in Service
UK and US Expand Collaboration on Nuclear Fusion Research and Workforce Exchange
Environment Agency Secures £275,000 Enforcement Deal with Anglian Water Over Permit Breaches
Independent Inspector Flags Ongoing Failures in UK Home Office Border Case Management
UK Government Considers Zero VAT Rate on Land for Social Housing Development
Bank of England Reports Sharp Drop in Emissions and Warns on Climate-Driven Financial Risk
Consumer Confidence in the UK Falls at Fastest Quarterly Rate Since 2022
UK Borrowing Costs Rise Sharply on Gilt Markets Amid Fiscal and Political Concerns
UK Government Plans Legislation to Bring British Steel into Public Ownership
UK Government Secures £210 Million Nuclear Fuel Deal to Support Ukraine Energy Security
London Ambulance Service Reports Record Emergency Call Volume Amid Severe Heatwave
United Kingdom Faces Record June Heatwave as Temperatures Hit 36.7°C in Somerset
UK Financial Services Reform Debate Intensifies Over Ministerial Regulatory Powers
UK Energy Price Cap Rise Expected to Keep Inflation Above Target Through 2026
UK Biohacking and AI Wellness Trends Drive Surge in Personal Health Monitoring
UK Social Care Sector Sees Workforce Shift as Overseas Recruitment Masks Domestic Labour Decline
Nuffield Trust Warns UK Health Budgets Remain Vulnerable Despite Record Spending Levels
UK Coal Pension Surplus Debate Returns to Parliament as Reform UK MP Seeks Clarity on Distribution
UK MPs Consider E-Petition Calling for NHS Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
UK Parliament Debates E-Petition Calling for Inquiry Into Pro-Israel Influence in Politics
UK Economy Grew 0.6 Percent in Q1 2026 but Business Sentiment Weakens Over Geopolitical Risks
UK Financial Services Bill Enters Lords Committee Stage With Expanded Ministerial Powers
UK Armed Forces Bill Advances With Plans for Defence Housing Service and Drone Defence Measures
UK Treasury Proposes Higher Electricity Generator Levy and Updated Mileage Allowance Rules
UK Parliament Debates Health Bill Amid Persistent GP Access and Patient Satisfaction Concerns
UK Financial Sanctions Regulator Signals Faster, Intelligence-Led Enforcement Strategy
British Chambers of Commerce Warns Business Confidence Crisis Is Dampening UK Investment
UK Parliament Debates Carbon Budget Order as Pressure Mounts on Net Zero Delivery
UK Energy Price Volatility Reinforces Pressure for Faster Electrification of Economy
UK Defence and Aerospace Strategy Gains Momentum as Keir Starmer Pushes Industrial Cooperation in Berlin
×