Meghan and Harry arrive to cheers at thanksgiving service after Trooping the Colour low profile
Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at National service of Thanksgiving
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have joined other members of the Royal Family at a National Service of Thanksgiving as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The couple arrived at St Paul's Cathedral in London to loud cheers from the crowds and held hands as they climbed the steps to enter the London landmark.
The couple's children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, who turns one tomorrow, weren't in attendance. They are, however, in the UK and staying at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor with their parents.
For the occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dressed the part in their finest attire. Harry wore a suit adorned with his vast collection of service medals while Meghan opted for a white coat dress with cropped sleeves and matching wide-brimmed hat.
She swept her hair up into a low, off-centre bun and accessorised with a pair of diamond earrings she wore to the Commonwealth Service in March 2020.
They arrived on their own - after the wider Royal Family but ahead of the senior royal procession - and were given a moment to themselves to greet clergymen that Harry won't have seen for a long time.
They were seated next to Harry's cousins - Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands.
The service was attended by a huge number of royals including the most senior members: Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Cambridge children were not in attendance after making their debut in the Trooping the Colour royal procession, riding in the first carriage with their mother, Kate, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Buckingham Palace announced last night that the Queen would not be attending after experiencing “some discomfort” during Thursday’s celebrations and the procession was rejigged to reflect Her Majesty's absence with Prince Charles representing her. Prince Andrew has contracted COVID-19 and so also didn't attend.
Following the service, senior members of the family will attend a Guildhall reception hosted by Lord Mayor but this invitation doesn't include Harry and Meghan as they're no longer working royals.
The Sussexes carried out their first official engagement in their capacity as members of the Royal Family yesterday since stepping back as working royals in March 2020. The pair watched the Trooping the Colour parade from the Major General’s Office alongside a number of royals of all ranks.
Meghan was pictured playfully shushing young royals and standing with Harry but no other photographs were circulated and it's not clear if Archie and Lilibet were in attendance. The couple didn't appear on Buckingham Palace's balcony to watch the RAF flypast.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were photographed at the Major General’s Office, Horse Guards Parade earlier. The couple were seen chatting with the Duke of Kent, and Meghan was spotted playing with Savannah Philips, Mia and Lena Tindall.
📷: Kelvin Bruce/Jim Bennett pic.twitter.com/MULet9QWpl— Omid Scobie (@scobie) June 2, 2022
This morning's service marks the first time the public has seen the previously-dubbed 'fab four' - Kate, William, Harry and Meghan - since March 2020, when the foursome - along with other Royal Family members - attended the annual Commonwealth Service in London.
William and Harry reunited in front of the world in July 2021 to unveil a statue of their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday - but their wives were not in attendance.
