Next June, the UK and the Commonwealth will mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne in 1952.
The Queen broke the record for the longest-serving British monarch back in 2015, when the length of her reign exceeded that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who occupied the throne between 1837 and 1901.
A special four-day Bank Holiday weekend will be granted in the UK in June 2022 to mark the Jubilee, as a range of events are due to be held to celebrate the Queen’s lengthy reign.
It has been reported that Prince Harry is eager to participate in the celebration of his grandmother’s achievement, although he and Meghan have stepped back from their position as senior members of the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly keen to return to the UK for the occasion. Meghan has not stepped foot in the UK since relocating across the Atlantic in early 2020, while Harry has only made one return journey, to attend the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip earlier this year.
According to The Sun, a source has stated: ‘It is already causing a headache and is going to be very awkward. What events can they attend?’
The source added: ‘Will we put them on the Buckingham Palace balcony for a flypast? This is a celebration for the Queen’s 70 years of service to the nation and should not be overshadowed.’
Relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family have been strained since the couple gave a tell-all interview about their experience to Oprah Winfrey.
During the interview, Harry and Meghan claimed that they had been subjected to racist comments by a member of the Royal Family, and also spoke about the impact of their treatment by the press on their mental health.