Royal Decision for Harry and Andrew

Harry, Meghan, and Yorks Settle for Backstage Pass at Jubilee

It’s been a favourite guessing game in Royal circles for the last few months, and on Friday afternoon, the announcements came just minutes apart. First, the official word from Buckingham Palace that The Queen, “after careful consideration” had decided only “members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties” would be joining her on the Palace balcony, and appearing in public at Trooping the Colour, during her historic Platinum Jubilee weekend.

The reaction was immediate, “Queen Bans Harry and Meghan!” “No place on the palace balcony for Harry, Meghan, and Andrew” tweeted one royal correspondent. “The Queen has taken decisive action amid continuing family fall-out,” tweeted another, “Harry and Meghan will not get an invitation, nor will the shamed Duke of York.”

Not so fast. Just 18 minutes later, in another moment timed for maximum PR impact, a spokesperson released an announcement from the ex-Royals in California. Max Foster at CNN tweeted it immediately: “JUST IN: They are coming. A spokesperson for the Sussexes: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children.”

The real story appears to be this: the Sussexes are coming, but, like Andrew, will have to settle for a Backstage Pass. It’s a Royal play that frankly King Solomon would envy.

Harry and Meghan get the gossip, but in reality, the most serious issue for the palace was Andrew. There was great concern, especially after the memorial for his father, that The Queen would want her favourite son by her side for her historic celebrations. It now seems that Her Majesty wisely deferred to her heir, Prince Charles, who had reportedly been adamant all along that there was no place in public for his disgraced brother.

Harry and Meghan are not as easy to deal with. Unlike Andrew, who is generally forgotten when he lays low, the press created by their attendance, or their absence, would have been a front page distraction. Ignore them at your own peril. With this decision, the palace can’t be accused of rejecting them, they’ve been offered an invitation, with conditions. They won’t be the public face of the Royal Family, but they will celebrate with extended members behind the scenes, and possibly even be seen at other Jubilee events.

It’s probably a fitting compromise. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is, after all, an official event. It’s not a private milestone, it marks her 70th anniversary as Monarch. It makes sense to have other working members of her family firm front and centre with her, they are the other employees and executives, if you will, who keep the business running. But, like all family businesses, the celebrations become an extended affair. Allowing even “retired” members to celebrate with them privately, is a generous decision, perhaps even more than some of them deserve.

Devout monarchists were deeply disappointed by the decision. Buckingham Palace balcony appearances are traditionally an opportunity for the ever-growing Royal Family to appear together, an increasingly rare sight. Many members of the extended family are popular, high profile figures, and have conducted themselves well as far as their royal connections are concerned. Richard Eden, at the Daily Mail, tweeted: “It’s sad that all the other royals, who would usually join the Queen on the palace balcony won’t now be able to because of the disloyalty of Harry and Meghan, and disgrace of Andrew. I always loved seeing the junior Royal Family members at Trooping the Colour.”

Critics of Harry and Meghan also chimed in, and wondered why, after all they’ve said about the family and the institution, do they even want to be part of the celebrations? Asking why they feel, “excited and honoured” to attend, given their accusations? Of course, it’s very possible a Royal christening for their daughter at Windsor Castle, will also be part of their trip, and may have even been negotiated during their recent surprise visit. (Given the recent cancellation of one of their income generating productions with Netflix, it’s also not a stretch to wonder if they’re rethinking their drastic separation…)

It is well known that The Prince of Wales has long favoured a “slimmed down” Royal family, and believes it critical for the monarchy’s survival. His feelings are in step with the British public. Repeated polls over the years consistently show the public are tired of supporting endless, and constitutionally unimportant, family members.

For the Diamond Jubilee, Prince Charles made what was seen as quite a drastic decision. The balcony appearance was limited to the Monarch and the Wales family alone. The Queen, The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry. It was clearly Prince Charles saying to the public, I hear you, and this will be your Royal Family going forward, a core group of working members.

The plan for the Platinum Jubilee, just a few weeks away now, seems to be a happier medium, similar to the number seen on the balcony for the 100th anniversary of the RAF in 2018. All working members will be included on the balcony, with the supporting cast behind the scenes. The decision also keeps the family drama behind closed doors, where private issues generally belong.

Andrew, Harry, and Meghan, may have to settle for a Backstage Pass for this Royal event, but a Royal pass is still a seat at the table, and access that few are afforded. How they are received by crowds in the UK, and what happens next, remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

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