Royal fans may have noticed that Meghan Markle was missing from the balcony during the first appearance at Trooping the Colour.
The Duchess of Sussex had taken a break from maternity leave to attend the event, celebrating the Queen’s official 93rd birthday on 8th June. She joined Prince Harry for the carriage procession, but disappeared for the first balcony appearance.
During this time, members of the royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to welcome the Queen as she enters in her carriage. Meghan was not seen during this time, but reappeared to watch the flyover later on.
So where was Meghan? There could be a number of reasons for the Duchess’ absence, with some speculating she’d gone behind the scenes to tend to baby Archie, who was born a month ago.
It’s not known if Archie was present at Buckingham Palace on the day or not, but if he was being cared for at the palace, it’s likely new mum Meghan would have wanted to check on him before she returned to the Queen’s celebrations.
It could also have been down to a simple outfit change, as she was later spotted without her coat and white gloves. Fans loved her Givenchy navy ensemble, teamed with emerald-cut earrings and a simple clutch. The Duchess looked elegant during her first public appearance since Archie’s birth.
The Duchess is expected to continue her maternity leave until at least the end of summer, and won’t be carrying out any official duties during this time. However, she was keen to attend Trooping the Colour as its a significant event for the royal family.
A source said ‘The Duchess is still on maternity leave, but this is a family moment, with the wider members of the royal family all in attendance. The Queen’s birthday celebration is a family event.’
Whatever the reason for her disappearance, fans were delighted to see her return to the balcony during the special event.
