LEGENDARY Sun photographer Arthur Edwards today makes an impassioned appeal to Prince Harry and wife Meghan not to steal the limelight as the country marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The couple and their children, Archie and Lilibet, are due to fly to the UK this week from California.
They are expected to take the youngsters to meet Her Majesty at Windsor on Saturday.
But here, in an open letter to them, Arthur — who has covered the Royal Family for more than 40 years and been awarded an MBE for outstanding service to newspapers — reminds the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that the celebrations are about her . . .
Dear Prince Harry and Meghan,
It is great news that you are coming to the United Kingdom to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
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But, as I am sure you are both already aware, this week’s historic Bank Holiday celebrations is all about commemorating Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable reign.
And, with respect, it is not about the pair of you.
I am certain that the Queen will be delighted to see you both again, as well as Archie, but most of all she will be delighted at getting the chance to hold Lili in her arms.
Your daughter, who celebrates her first birthday on Saturday, June 4, is the only one of her 12 great-grandchildren that Her Majesty hasn’t yet met.
And the historic photograph of the moment she meets the Queen — in other words, Lilibet meets Lilibet — will be a timeless and treasured picture for the royal archive at Windsor.
When you do meet your grandmother again, Prince Harry, you will find — despite your concerns — that Her Majesty is well protected and in safe hands.
I’m sure she appreciates the concern you expressed on US TV after your last private meeting, when you paid her a flying visit on your way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
This time, I hope you will leave your Netflix crew behind and allow the Queen to take centre stage during these four days of national celebrations to mark her unique 70-year reign.
We are looking forward to seeing both of you with other members of the Royal Family at Friday’s service of thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral.
Then for the rest of the bank holiday, join in the fun of this remarkable celebration — but just remember this is not about you, it is about Queen Elizabeth II. It must be hard to accept that neither of you will be on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday for the fly-past of 70 military aircraft.
But as you know, the monarch has decided that only working royals will appear.
It’s a decision I’m sure you will understand and respect, as you decided to leave the country and give up your royal duties. Meghan, you tried hard, I know, for two years to be a working member of the Royal Family and I realise it was not for you.
You did give it a try and now you have got exactly what you wanted from life, which is absolutely your right.
But the way you went about it — giving your version of events in that controversial Oprah Winfrey interview — has polarised the nation.
You and Harry seem to have divided the generations. Millions of younger people see you as victims who needed to be heard.
While those of us who are older think it was wrong for you to do that.
Remember this Platinum Jubilee is about the Queen — and nobody else.
The people of Britain will turn out in their millions — even in these tough times — to honour a 96-year-old woman who has given our country a lifetime of service and duty. A woman celebrating a milestone that will never be equalled in our lifetime — or even in Archie’s lifetime.
A woman who has never, ever let us down.
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Please, Harry and Meghan, don’t let Her Majesty down and, for once, take a back seat. Let the real star of the Jubilee shine.
Warmest regards, Arthur
