JOINING THE TROOPS
Harry and Meghan take place on balcony with Queen for ceremony
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken their places for the first time with the Queen on Buckingham Palace’s balcony after Trooping the Colour.
Harry and Meghan passed another royal milestone as husband and wife yesterday when they joined her in acknowledging the crowds gathered in the Mall following the traditional ceremony to mark her official birthday.
The Queen was flanked by her sons, the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, at the front of the balcony, while the newlyweds stood behind her, surrounded by other members of the Royal Family.
The younger Royals lined up in front of the adults to enjoy the flypast of modern and historic aircraft, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte standing with their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Charlotte clapped excitedly when the thousands of people gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace applauded the aerial display.
But Peter and Autumn Phillips’ seven-year-old daughter Savannah, who was with her sister Isla, could be seen playing up as everyone stood still while the national anthem was played.
The youngster could be seen fooling about with George and jokingly put her hand over his mouth.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who has effectively retired from official public duties, was the only major figure missing from the gathering.
Other members of the Royal Family on the balcony included the Duchess of Cornwall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex and her children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, but the Earl of Wessex was not present as he is thought to be returning from an overseas trip.
Earlier, the pomp and pageantry of Trooping the Colour was staged on Horse Guards Parade - a first for Meghan. The duchess and her husband enjoyed a carriage procession to the event with other members of the Royal Family before they all watched the spectacle from Wellington’s old office.
Meghan looked chic in a dress by Carolina Herrera and a hat by Philip Treacy, while Kate was stylish in an Alexander McQueen dress and a hat by Juliette Botterill.