Writer praises Sussexes, says Prince Harry is 'happy to be relegated to second-tier royal'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations grabbed a lot of eyeballs, with most criticizing them for showing up after blasting royals in interviews, including one with Oprah Winfrey. However, British journalist Celia Walden has shockingly taken the couple's side and praised the pair for their presence during the Monarch’s special day. Walden, whose husband Piers Morgan has mostly been critical about the Sussexes, claimed they did the “right, respectful thing” instead of being "conspicuous by their absence".
The 46-year-old wrote for the Telegraph as reported by express.co.uk, noting: “There would surely have been a time when being shunted from the front row would have left Harry and Meghan smarting. Well, Meghan at least. Rightly or wrongly I’ve always assumed that, whereas the Duchess’s Garbo-esque 'I want to be alone' act is just that, Harry is probably genuinely happy to be relegated to a second-tier royal. Either way, the Sussexes low-key return could not be faulted.”
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The novelist also stated that “for once” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seemed to accept that the platinum jubilee “wasn't about them,” as she added: “They played their new 'second-tier Sussexes' roles seamlessly, they proved they could do it, and although the reality may take some getting used to I’m quite sure that having their eye on a bigger prize in a bigger country will make it easier.”
Harry and Meghan stepped down from senior royal duties in 2020 and went to the US to live there. They returned for Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations and also attended the thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral. However, since they were no longer working royals, they were not given front seats; they were seen in the second row at the event.
While the prince and former actress’ eldest son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in the UK in May 2019, the couple’s daughter – Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor – was born in the US last year. She recently celebrated her first birthday while in London on June 4.
The little one also reportedly had her first meeting with her great-grandmother. Royal commentator Omid Scobie had spoken about the meeting as well as her birthday celebration. He told BBC Breakfast, “I think people are expecting some sort of big birthday extravagant event, that we’re going to see photographs from. From what I’m told, we shouldn’t expect anything. Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she’s been looking forward to it.”
Scobie also said, “They’ve been held back by a pandemic. Of course the times that Harry has been here it’s just been by himself for quite sombre occasions. And so this really was the first time. Of course we know the Queen went back to Windsor Castle yesterday, the couple went back to Windsor as well where they’re staying at Frogmore Cottage. So that would have been the first moment or the first chance for her to meet her namesake.” He added, “I spoke with people close to the couple... who said that they want to be as low-profile as possible during this trip. It’s almost hard to believe, but I think yesterday Trooping the Colour was a great example. We didn’t really catch sight of them on TV cameras.”