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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle skipped out early on the end of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations to start making their way back home to California.
On Sunday, the royal couple and their two children, three-year-old Archie and one-year-old Lilibet, left the UK ahead of the grand finale to the four days of festivities honoring Queen Elizabeth‘s history-making 70 years on the throne, reportedly flying out of Farnborough Airport at 1:30 p.m. That means they missed out on the Platinum Jubilee Pageant which closed out the celebration and which other members of the royal family took in from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Before leaving, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Trooping the Colour, which kicked off the long weekend, although they did not appear with the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other working members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the event as they stepped down as senior royals in 2020. A palace statement on the matter clarified that “after careful consideration, the Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday, 2 June, 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.” But regardless, a spokesperson for the couple said, “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are excited and honored to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children.”
Harry, Meghan, and their children initially arrived in London on Wednesday ahead of the Platinum Jubilee, reportedly taking a commercial flight for the occasion instead of their usual private jet. This was Lilibet’s first trip to the UK, as well as the first time she’s met the great-grandmother she was named for. The infant also celebrated her first birthday on Saturday at the royal couple’s former home, Frogmore Cottage. According to The Sun, Harry and Meghan threw their youngest an informal garden party at the home, keeping things “relaxed and casual” with picnic-style snacks, a birthday cake, balloons and party games. Guests included Harry’s cousin, Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall, and their three children, Mia, Lena, and Lucas, as well as Zara’s brother Peter Phillips, his ex-wife Autumn Kelly, and their two children, Savannah and Isla. Archie’s godfather, Charlie Van Straubenzee, was also in attendance, as was his brother Tom, who is Princess Charlotte’s godfather.
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