The Queen was on duty for the royals on a day that had major repurcussions for the family.
Queen Camilla attended one of her favourite annual events, the Ebor Festival, at york racecourse.
While she was there, The Queen watched a parachute display, just hours before Harry and Meghan announced they’d be dropping back into life in the UK.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to the country this month with their children, Archie and Lilibet, enrolled in schools and set to start classes at the beginning of September.
The King was told of their plans on Sunday, just three days before they went public with them.
Harry and Meghan left their roles as working members of the Royal Family in early 2020, saying they wanted to pursue their own business interests. At the time, Queen Elizabeth II made it very clear that a ‘half in half our arrangement’, where the couple carried out some royal engagements while setting up private enterprises, was out of the question.
It’s been confirmed that there is no return for Harry and Meghan as working royals and no half in half out set up. Instead, they will return as private citizens and live in a non royal home, reportedly in the Cotswolds. Further details of where that is have remained confidential.
Prince Harry has repeatedly raised concerns about whether the UK was safe enough for his wife and children to visit so their decision to relocate has surprised many.
Queen Camilla was aware of the news as she arrived at York but was her usual calm self as she enjoyed a day at the races.
The Queen has been a regular at York Racecourse for the Ebor Festival for several years and likes to highlight the unsung people who make it a success.
For the event, Queen Camilla was in pastel blue with a striking hat that included a feather detail. The warm weather of this summer was moving on and Her Majesty found herself under a shower, adding a beige mac to keep the rain out.
As part of the event, she watched a parachute display where two people jumped into the racecourse from a distance with all eyes on them, a metaphor for the news that was to come.
Buckingham Palace has made no official comment on the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move back to the UK. It’s understood that King Charles is ‘happy’ he could see more of his younger son and two youngest grandchildren.
They were last all together in July when Charles III saw Archie and Lilibet for the first time since 2022. The youngsters joined their parents for tea at Highgrove. The move back to the UK wasn’t mentioned at the meeting and was only conveyed to The King with three days notice.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have also been told but there is no indication of when or how they found out. Prince Harry is reported to have told The King personally in a conversation on Sunday.
Charles III is now at Balmoral for his summer stay there, receiving the traditional official welcome with a guard of honour as he took up residence.
It is expected that members of the Royal Family will visit him there during his time at Balmoral. King Charles III will also host Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and his wife, Marie France, for a weekend there, as is usual.
However, speculation has already started over a possible visit there by Harry and Meghan, a sign of things to come as they come back to the UK.
In the meantime, The Queen looked to the skies and watched as the parachutes came into land.
