A royal display! Prince WilliamAnd Duchess KateThey turned heads when they arrived in style Queen Elizabeth II‘s Service of Thanksgiving during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The Cambridge couple attended the Friday, June 3, event at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London after joining the 96-year-old monarch for the Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace one day prior. Kate, 40 years old, stepped out in a light yellow Emilia Wickstead dress, with a cinched waist, in a springy look. She accessorized with a matching hat, gloves and a pair of Elizabeth’s earrings. Her husband, 39-year-old, wore a classic black suit with royal medals.
The duke and duchess were not allowed to sit in the chapel. Prince HarryAnd Meghan MarkleThe couple returned to the U.K. for the first official joint royal event since 2020 Commonwealth Day Service. The SuitsThe 40-year-old alum looked stunning in a Dior trench coat dress while Harry, 37, looked identical to his older brother.
Source exclusive: Us Weekly following the event that the palace chose not to seat the pairs beside one another to “avoid any unwanted attention.” Their seating arrangements were a result of Harry and Meghan’s 2020 step down from their senior royal duties, with current senior-ranking members of the family sitting closer to the front of the chapel, per the insider.
The Sussexes were photographed at the parade on Thursday, June 2, but they didn’t join the queen on the palace balcony. The service will be attended by the monarch, who is being honored for her 70-years of service. However, she pulled out of the ceremony at the last moment.
“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and flypast but did experience some discomfort,” a palace statement read on Thursday. “Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.”
Per the palace, “The Queen is looking forward to participating in tonight’s Beacon lighting event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion.”
Though they didn’t see Harry’s grandmother on Friday, Harry and Meghan previously paid her a surprise visit at Windsor Castle in April. William and Kate, however were not part the royal family reunion.
“It was purely coincidental. Harry will be returning to visit William soon. They are trying to figure things out,” an insider exclusively told UseAt the time, it was noted that William was on a ski trip. “Harry and Meghan had a wonderful time seeing the queen again. It was one of the biggest highlights of their year so far.”
The former military pilot’s relationship with his sibling has raised eyebrows since October 2019, when Harry confessed in an ITV special that he and William were “on different paths.” The following January, the BetterUp CIO and his wife announced their plans to step back from their senior royal roles.
Buckingham Palace announced in February 2021 that the couple would not be returning to the royal family as working members. A month later, Harry & Meghan shared their decision in a shocking CBS tell-all. They also made bold claims about the British royals.
“The queen is insisting that the royals handle the matter privately,” a source told UseIn March 2021 of the fallouts from the interview. “William is struggling to hold back. He wants to get his side out there.”
Scroll down for photos from the Service of Thanksgiving
