Cambridges to visit Wales on weekend of bank holiday

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Wales during the extended Bank Holiday Jubilee weekend, Buckingham Palace has announced.

William and Kate are among senior royals who will tour the UK as the nation marks the Queen’s 70-year reign with a series of events.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Northern Ireland and the Princess Royal will visit Scotland, with all the members of the monarchy attending public events marking the Platinum Jubilee.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are likely to be in London attending events over the four-day weekend in June and it is not known which engagements the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will participate in.

Harry and Meghan confirmed on Friday that they were “excited and honoured” to attend the commemorations for the monarch’s milestone in June with their children Archie and Lilibet.

During her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made an extensive tour of the country over a three-month period.

Details have been released about some of the arrangements for the Platinum Jubilee, with the gathering of royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Trooping the Colour ceremony limited to just working royals and with the Duke of York and Harry and Meghan omitted from the lineup.

On June 2, Trooping the Colour, the sovereign’s official birthday parade, will kickstart the four days of Jubilee festivities, with 18 members of the royal family set to gather on the famous frontage, with the Queen “looking forward” to the weekend of celebrations.

A Palace spokesman said: “After careful consideration, the Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday, June 2, will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the royal family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen.”

There will be no ceremonial journey to the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on the Friday, and the 96-year-old monarch will use a different entrance rather than scaling the steep steps.

The 18th century Gold State Coach will appear on the streets of London for the first time in 20 years when it leads the Jubilee Pageant procession on June 5.

With the Queen expected to appear on the balcony for Trooping, attend the church service and the Epsom Derby, decisions on her appearances across the weekend are not likely to be confirmed until the day.