Queen can finally meet Lilibet as Harry and Meghan fly in for Platinum Jubilee

30 May 2022, 00:01 | Updated: 30 May 2022, 06:57

The Queen will finally get the chance to meet Harry and Meghan's children despite banning the couple from Buckingham Palace’s balcony during the Platinum Jubilee.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will still attend the royal family’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and it has been confirmed they are bringing Archie, 3, and Lilibet with them.

It is the first time the whole family has been brought to the UK since the Sussexes left for the US as they withdrew from royal duties. It appears increasingly unlikely the Queen will attend he favourite part of the sporting calendar – the Derby in Epsom – on Saturday, which is the same day Lilibet, named after the monarch, will turn one.

Aides are trying to ensure the Queen’s diary is not maxed out given her mobility issues.

A spokeswoman for Harry and Meghan said: "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."

Read more: Andrew, Harry and Meghan snubbed from Queen's Jubilee balcony appearance

The royal family plan to share "food, fun and friendship" at special lunches to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this week.

A special four-day bank holiday will commence from Thursday allowing Brits to celebrate the Queen's 70-year reign and the royals have revealed how they plan to mark the occasion.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will meet guests at a feast at The Oval cricket ground in south London, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex will join members of the local community in Windsor.

The get-togethers are part of the Big Jubilee Lunches, which includes events ranging from world record attempts for the longest street party to back garden BBQs and "everything in between", organisers say.

More than 85,000 people have signed up to host Big Jubilee Lunches, the official community celebration for the Platinum Jubilee.

The Platinum Pudding, Scotch eggs and fruit platters will feature on a six-metre felt creation by artist Lucy Sparrow which is to be viewed by Charles and Camilla at The Oval.

It will be given pride of place in the Grand Entrance of Buckingham Palace later this year.

Jubilee Queen on ‘sparkling’ form as she celebrates Platinum milestone

Ms Sparrow, who is described as "quirky yet subversive" on her website, recreated the Crown Jewels in felt to celebrate the Queen's official 90th birthday.

She also had commercial and critical success when she opened a fully stocked felt corner shop in London's East End in 2014.

Her first solo show in the US was a New York bodega in May 2017 called The Convenience Store which was stocked with 9,000 felted artworks.

Members of the local community, 70 volunteers who have been recognised as Platinum Champions through the Royal Voluntary Service's Platinum Champions Awards, celebrity ambassadors and various charity representatives will be among the guests at the cricket ground.

The royal couple will also present the Platinum Champions with certificates and pins, before cutting a Big Jubilee Lunch cake.

Read more: Meghan Markle 'has reached out to father' days after he suffered stroke and lost speech

More than 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches are being planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond - from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to Japan and South Africa to Switzerland.

Edward and Sophie will join Berkshire residents for their special lunch on the Long Walk, not far from Windsor Castle.

The Long Walk is being reinvented to create "the Long Table" in celebration of the jubilee. This royal pair are also set to meet groups of street performers.

Charles and Camilla will also celebrate with the residents of Albert Square in an EastEnders special.

They will be seen attending a Big Lunch in a June 2 episode of the BBC soap.

The Big Lunch is an annual event aimed at celebrating community connections.

Read more: Queen 'to miss Epsom Derby to pace herself' on Jubilee weekend

Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military titles over sex abuse allegations, will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The Queen decided "after careful consideration" to only include royals carrying out official public duties, the palace said.