Harry and Meghan reunited with family in public for thanksgiving service – but kept separate from Cambridges and Charles | UK News

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reunited with their family in public for the first time in two years at the Jubilee thanksgiving service – but kept their distance from the Cambridges and the Prince of Wales.

Harry and Meghan arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral for the service minutes before William and Kate, who came without their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall followed but, once seated, both sets of senior royals stayed separate from the Sussexes.

Mix of boos and cheers on PM’s arrival at St Paul’s – follow live updates

Charles represented the Queen after the 96-year-old was “reluctantly” forced to pull out after experiencing “discomfort” during the first day of celebrations and watched the service at home in Windsor instead.

There were several other royals at the service, including Princess Anne, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince Michael of Kent.

Boris Johnson reads from the Bible

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie arrived to a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowds, some of whom had camped out overnight to see members of the Royal Family and senior politicians turn out for the Queen.

Mr Johnson read a passage from the Bible, which was followed by a sermon from the Archbishop of York.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was absent after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this week.

Prince Andrew did not attend either after he too tested positive for COVID. The Duke of York had been told to stay away from most of the Jubilee celebrations but was due to be at the thanksgiving service.

Both Harry and Meghan have not been seen in public together with the Royals since the Sussexes final engagement as working royals – the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020.

Since then, the pair have started a new life in Los Angeles and given a controversial interview to Oprah Winfrey that claimed members of the royal household made remarks about the colour of their son’s skin.

Harry also claimed his father had stopped taking his calls and that he hadn’t spoken to his brother.

The Platinum Jubilee is also the first time they have been back to the UK together and with their daughter Lilibet – named after the Queen – who is turning one on Saturday.

There has been speculation Her Majesty will take time out from official proceedings to meet her great-granddaughter for the first time.

Members of the military collapse on cathedral steps

After the Queen’s Birthday Parade and balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace, a Palace spokesman said the monarch would not be attending the St Paul’s service due to the “journey and activity required”.

Former British leaders, current government ministers and representatives from different faiths were also among the guests, which included 400 key workers, charity volunteers and members of the Armed Forces.

As guests arrived at the event at, at least two members of the military collapsed on the steps of the cathedral and were taken away by the ambulance service.

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A reception was held at the Guildhall after the service, which is being attended by most members of the Royal Family and features a new anthem by Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir.

On Saturday, the Queen is expected to attend the Epsom Derby before the Party at the Palace concert in the evening.

Big Jubilee Lunches will line the streets of the UK on Sunday lunchtime, before the £15m Jubilee Pageant through the streets of central London.