Radio silence from Harry and Meghan: Duke and Duchess of Sussex fail to publicly congratulate the Queen as she celebrates her platinum jubilee and requests that Camilla become Queen consort when Charles is made King. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have failed to publicly congratulate the Queen as she celebrates her platinum jubilee a day after requesting that Camilla becomes Queen consort when Prince Charles is made King.
The monarch ended years of uncertainty in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement last night by declaring it was her ‘sincere wish’ for the Duchess of Cornwall to be fully acknowledged when her son takes the throne. Charles and Camilla were ‘touched and honoured’ by her gesture, Clarence House said today.
And in a statement, Charles added that he was ‘deeply conscious of the honour’ given to his ‘darling wife’ as he congratulated his mother on her 70-year reign. However, Harry and Meghan are yet to provide any public comment nearly a day on from the Queen’s announcement at 10pm on Saturday. The couple, who are currently residing in a $14million mansion in California, stepped back from royal duties last year. The Sussexes abandoned social media as they focused on their new roles in the US, having reportedly become disillusioned by ‘hate’ they received online.
Updates regarding their activities are regularly posted through the Archewell website instead, but the Queen’s grandson is yet to give any reaction to her announcement. Meghan’s close friend and media ally Omid Scobie has also remained silent.
It comes despite a source claiming Harry had extended an olive branch to his father last month in a bid to heal their rift ahead of the today’s celebrations. He is expected to return to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee, which will see the country enjoy a four day bank holiday from June 2 to 5.
It is not known if Meghan Markle, 40, and their children Archie, two, and eight-month-old Lilibet, will be joining him. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also not commented publicly on the Queen’s statement, but did retweet the Royal Family’s post, which included the Queen’s announcement.They also shared a news story on their joint Instagram account. In a statement issued today, Charles praised his mother’s ‘devotion to the welfare of all her people’.
He said: ‘On this historic day, my wife and I join you all in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the remarkable achievement of serving this nation, the Realms and Commonwealth for seventy years. The Queen’s devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year.
‘We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish. As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.
‘The year of this unprecedented Platinum Jubilee brings an opportunity for us all to come together in celebrating the service of The Queen, by whose example we will continue to be led in the years to come.’
