Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's return to UK after rift – but 'they WON'T privately catch up with Kate & Wills'

INSIDE Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's return to the UK after their royal rift – as they allegedly "won't privately catch up with Kate and William" this weekend.

The couple, who stepped down as working royals in 2020, returned for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend to celebrate Her Majesty with the family.

Meghan and Harry have attended one public engagement together – the Service of Thanksgiving – but they were also seen backstage at Trooping the Colour.

And they'll also be marking their daughter Lilibet's first birthday over the Jubilee weekend.

Here's a run down of everything that has happened so far with the Sussexes during the Queen's 70th anniversary on the throne.

Front and centre, behind the balcony

Our first glimpse of Meghan back on British soil in two years came on Thursday – the first day of the royal celebrations for the Queen.

Meghan and Harry were banned from appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour, as per the Queen's orders.

But the Californian couple were spotted in the background – chatting away to the Duke of Kent and whispering to the young royal children.

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Wearing a navy blue dress and matching hat, Meghan stood in the Major General's Office as the military spectacular took place below.

Aunty Meg made headlines as she shushed  Zara Tindall's eldest daughter along with the Queen's great-granddaughter Savannah Philips.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex cheekily put their fingers to their lips as they helped entertain the youngest royals during Trooping the Colour.

They did not appear with senior royals for Thursday's RAF flypast after they were snubbed by the Queen last month.

No Netflix cameras allowed

As Meghan and Harry left Buckingham Palace on Thursday, they were spotted driving in a car by crowds of cheering fans outside.

Despite Harry's safety fears – which he lodged legal action against the Government over after they took away his police bodyguards – Meg rode with the window down.

She smiled at the crowds as Harry peered through the open window.

But the press and public were the only ones recording the scene – as Meghan and Harry have allegedly been told to not record for their Netflix show while at the Jubilee.

A team has been allegedly tasked to stop any moves by filmmakers to “exploit” the streaming giant’s £112million deal with the couple at the Queen’s four-day celebrations.

A well-placed source told The Sun last month: “While the family are delighted Harry and Meghan are coming, there is a real fear of tension, especially over any Netflix crew.

"There are concerns tension could explode if the Netflix team comes to the UK and tries to exploit their opportunities.

“The worry is they will push it and try to gain access to areas of Jubilee celebration events where they can film Harry and Meghan and their children.

“Even if they accept that their Netflix crew can’t go into Buckingham Palace to film, they could cause problems – and at the very least cause a major distraction.

“Senior courtiers believe that Netflix will see it as one big opportunity to exploit their mega-millions agreement with the couple.

“So a team of Palace aides will be on standby to keep a very close eye on the crew, and act as minders if needs be.”

Lilibet meeting the Queen

Meghan and Harry have brought their youngest child Lilibet to the UK with them – marking her first time in the country.

And the question everyone is asking is whether or not she has met her namesake yet, Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen is believed to have finally met her great-granddaughter Lilibet, according to sources who say they were united for the first time on Thursday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly introduced the youngster, who turns one on Saturday, to the monarch at Windsor Castle.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom, said it would have been the first time the 96-year-old would have come face-to-face with her namesake, who was born in California last year.

He told BBC Breakfast: "Of course we know the Queen went back to Windsor Castle yesterday, the couple went back to Windsor as well where they're staying at Frogmore Cottage.

"So that would have been the first moment or the first chance for her to meet her namesake."

He added that people shouldn't expect "some sort of big birthday extravagant event" for the soon-to-be one-year-old's celebrations – nor should they anticipate any photos.

"From what I'm told, we shouldn't expect anything," he said.

"Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she's been looking forward to it.

"They've been held back by a pandemic. And so this really was the first time."

It was previously thought that the Queen would meet little Lili for the first time on Saturday – coinciding with the tot's first birthday.

Her Majesty, 96, is likely to miss her favourite sporting event, the Derby, on Saturday — perhaps to make way for family time with the Sussexes.

Not meeting with Kate and Wills personally

Back in 2018, Meghan and Harry revealed they didn't want to live in Kensington near Kate and William and instead they moved out to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

And ever since, public engagements where the four have been present have been tense, according to experts.

A series of royal engagements at Westminster Abbey in the months running up to Megxit showed how the relationship between the brothers – and their spouses- allegedly soured.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt they were "punished" as they joined senior royals at the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020 – in what marked their final public appearance as working royals.

The alleged frosty tensions were also felt on Friday morning during the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral.

While the Queen, 96, herself did not attend due to mobility issues, the rest of the Firm were there including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Charles and Camilla, Beatrice and Eugenie and Zara and Mike Tindall.

And images from inside St Paul's show where Harry and Meghan stand in the royal pecking order since they quit the Royal Family.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, 40, were spotted next to one another in the front row on the left.

Whereas Meghan Markle, 40, and Prince Harry sat on the opposite side, one row behind.

In March 2020, Meghan and Harry were also placed in a row behind William and Kate at the Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey.

Dressed in a green outfit with a matching hat, Meghan sat directly behind the Cambridges – just a few weeks before they quit the royal family for California.

But in today's service, the pair were further away from William and Kate than they were before – sitting on the other side of the aisle at St Paul's.

And afterwards, there were no indications that the foursome mingled as Wills and Kate were seen laughing together with Camilla and Charles.

It's not known whether the couples have met together personally since Meg and Harry arrived from California.

But insiders have claimed that brothers William and Harry have no intentions of meeting up separately over the celebratory weekend.

A royal source told Page Six: “At the moment, it does not look likely that Harry and Meghan and William and Kate will meet up separately during the Jubilee celebrations.

“There is certainly nothing in the diary at the moment.”

First time seeing Kate since the row over who made who cry

In Meghan's explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021, she shut down rumours that she made Kate cry over an incident concerning bridesmaids' dresses at her wedding.

Meghan instead insisted it was the Duchess of Cambridge who upset her.

The incident happened three years ago when it was believed Meghan "left Kate Middleton in tears," but it re-emerged during the tell-all chat.

However, claims were later made that Kate tried to make up with Meghan by offering her flowers as an apology – only for her olive branch to be rejected.

This Jubilee weekend is the first time Meghan and Kate have seen each other in real life since the allegations were made public last year.

Not being in the St Paul's procession

Meghan and Harry were not included in The Queen's procession into St Paul's Cathedral on Friday for the Service of Thanksgiving.

The royal duo were noticeably missed from the line-up, which included The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Camilla also joined Prince Charles – who followed a series of religious leaders into the church for the service.

Instead, Meg and Harry made their way into the building beforehand, smiling and waving at crowds who cheered for them.

This was the first time the pair have stepped out together in front of the public for a formal engagement in the UK since they dramatically quit the Royal Family.

Meghan gleamed in a greige Dior number- along with a matching Dior hat, gloves, bag, and shoes.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Everything to know about the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

• When is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022?
• When is the 4-day bank holiday in 2022?
• How old is the Queen and why does she have two birthdays?
• Queen’s Platinum Jubilee order of events: What happens on the day?
• How to live stream The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee parade
• When is the Platinum Party at the Palace and how to watch on BBC?
• Platinum Jubilee concert line-up: Who is performing for The Queen’s show?
• When is the Big Windsor lunch at Windsor Castle and who’s going?
• What is The Big Jubilee Lunch and how can I organise a street party for the Queen’s Platinum celebrations?
• How to watch the Platinum Jubilee Beacons near me?
• Queen’s Jubilee bank holiday opening times 2022: All the changes for shops including Waitrose, Tesco and John Lewis
• What time will pubs open and close for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee?
• What souvenirs and gifts can I buy to mark the Platinum Jubilee?
• God Save The Queen lyrics: What are the words to the National Anthem?

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