To celebrate her 70th year on the throne,Queen Elizabethwill be awarding special Platinum Jubilee medals next month — but as non-working senior royal family members, willPrince Andrew, Prince Harry andMeghan Marklebe included?
The commemorative medals are awarded to members of the armed forces, police, fire, emergency and prison services as well as members of the royal household and the monarch’s family.
The palace will not talk about specific members of the royal family following reports that Prince Andrew,Prince Harryand Meghan will receive the medals despite no longer being working members of the family.
But a royal source confirms to PEOPLE, “In common with previous jubilees, it is likely that wider members of the royal family would receive the Platinum Jubilee.” While members of the armed forces and other public servants receive them, the Queen independently pays for a number of medals for distribution “widely” to working and non-working members of her family.
The source adds, “They are funded privately and are commemorative.”
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Separately, Buckingham Palace had no comment or guidance about whetherPrince Harryand Meghan will travel to the U.K. in the spring forPrince Philip’s Service of Thanksgiving. The only date they have given for that occasion is that it will take place in the spring. Harry’s grandfather,Prince Philip, died last April at the age of 99. Harry attended the funeral alongside his family at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The couple relocated to California in 2020 after announcing that they intended to “step back as senior members of the Royal Family.” The Queen confirmed in Feb. 2021 after a year that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not return to their royal roles.
In their own statement about the news,Prince Harryand Meghan’s office said that the pair “remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role.”
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew announced in Nov. 2019 that he would “step back from public dutiesfor the foreseeable future” following hisbombshell interview with the BBCabout his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision was “widely discussed” within the senior ranks of the royal family, a royal source confirms to PEOPLE — likely meaning talks between Queen Elizabeth,Prince CharlesandPrince William.
Prince Andrew’s official Twitter account has since been deleted. His bio on the royal family’s website also now reflects his new status as a private citizen.
source: people.com
