LONDON (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth plans to attend celebrations to mark her 70th anniversary next month, Buckingham Palace said on Friday, but Princes Andrew and Harry will be excluded.
The Queen kicked off the start of her Platinum Jubilee festivities last February. The June celebrations will mark the anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
The 96-year-old monarch has difficulty getting around which means most of her recent public engagements have had to be cancelled, but Buckingham Palace has said she plans to attend a number of ‘events.
“Her Majesty looks forward to participating in the celebrations, however her attendance will not be confirmed until later or even on the day (of the festivities),” a palace spokesperson said.
The festivities, which will take place over four days, will begin on June 2 with the annual “Trooping the Colour” military parade. A service at St Paul’s Cathedral, a concert outside Buckingham Palace and a parade in the British capital will be held on the following days.
Traditionally, the Royal Family gathers to wave to crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during major events, but the Queen has decided that neither her son Prince Andrew nor her grandson Prince Harry will be present this time.
Prince Andrew was forced to renounce his military titles and royal patronages because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a US financier – now deceased – accused of trafficking and abuse of minors, and after being targeted by a complaint for sexual assault in the United States.
Prince Harry stepped down from official duties in 2020 and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Meghan Markle. The couple gave an interview last year in which Meghan Markle accused the British royal family of racism, lies and pushing her to the brink of suicide.
The grandson of Queen Elizabeth had meanwhile deplored the reaction of those close to her to the couple’s decision to no longer play any active role in the royal family.
“After careful consideration, The Queen has decided that the traditional balcony appearance will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the Royal Family currently performing official public duties on her behalf,” the palace spokesperson said.
Queen Elizabeth inherited the throne of Great Britain and more than a dozen other kingdoms, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, while in Kenya on an international tour.
(Report Michael Holden; French version Camille Raynaud, edited by Sophie Louet)