Prince Harry and Meghan return to duty

On 03/06/2022, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attended the Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, marking their first joint official public appearance in the United Kingdom since stepping back from senior royal duties in March 2020. The service formed part of the nationwide celebrations commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, a historic milestone reached earlier in 2022. The event brought together members of the royal family, political leaders, and invited guests. Prince Harry and Meghan arrived separately from senior members of the royal family and were seated in the cathedral alongside other non-working royals. Their attendance drew considerable public and media attention due to the period of absence from official royal engagements in the UK. The couple had relocated to the United States in 2020 after announcing their decision to step back from senior royal responsibilities. Since then, their visits to the UK had been limited and primarily private or related to specific events, including Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, which Meghan did not attend due to pregnancy. Their appearance at the Platinum Jubilee service therefore marked a rare joint return to a formal royal setting within the UK. The Service of Thanksgiving was conducted by the Church of England and included prayers, readings, and music reflecting the Queen’s decades of service. Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the service due to episodic mobility issues, with Buckingham Palace confirming her absence shortly before the event. Senior royals present included Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, among others. Following the service, Prince Harry and Meghan departed the cathedral without participating in the traditional balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace, which was reserved for working members of the royal family. Their attendance remained limited to the service itself, in line with the arrangements for Jubilee events.