Thursday 2 June 2022 10:10 PM 'Harry and Meghan were careful to avoid accusations of hogging the limelight at ... trends now Perhaps it was too much to expect of a couple that prized money and personal freedom above royal traditions of service and duty to suddenly rediscover those noble virtues. Or perhaps the differences that saw Harry and Meghan choose well-rewarded exile over the humdrum obligations of being working royals were simply unbridgeable. But if there were to be an opportunity to give the Queen the greatest Platinum Jubilee gift of all – photographic proof of family unity – it was won and lost in the hour or so when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex came face to face with their royal relatives in a viewing point overlooking the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade. Rationing their public appearances to just the odd glimpse, they were certainly careful to avoid accusations of hogging the limelight or of upstaging anyone. Indeed it seemed they were quite content to retreat to the shadows. When they did edge into sight through the open windows of a VIP viewing area they were seen only with the most junior or most obscure of Royal Family members. There was a blink-and-you-miss-it encounter with the Queen's elderly cousin, the Duke of Kent, and two delightful moments when Harry and Meghan – both offering a playful shush – knelt down to share a joke with Princess Anne's grandchildren Mia and Lena Tindall and Savannah and Isla Phillips. Charming as these episodes undoubtedly were, imagine the value of a snapshot of them with the Duchess of Cambridge. Was the absence of it deliberate? Meghan Markle appeared to shush the royal children as she appeared inside the Major General's Office overlooking the Whitehall parade ground, with Savannah and Isla Phillips and Lena and Mia Tindall Meghan Markle is seen with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon Meghan Markle with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall inside the Major General's Office overlooking the Whitehall parade ground on day one of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday Prince Harry speaks to the Duke of Kent with Meghan Markle as they attend Trooping the Colour in London on Thursday afternoon Prince Harry also appeared to shush the same group of young royals as they appeared at the window to watch Trooping the Colour Shhh!... Don't tell them we're here They promised to keep a low profile while attending the Jubilee celebrations. And so far, Harry and Meghan have stuck to their word. Indeed, the couple tried to avoid prying eyes as they watched Trooping the Colour on Thursday from the Major General's Office overlooking Horse Guards Parade. Their muted appearance was marked by an image of Meghan, 40, affectionately shushing Peter Phillips' children – Isla, ten, and Savannah, 11 – and Zara Tindall's Mia, eight, and Lena, three. Prince Harry, 37, was pictured doing the same to the excitable girls. The couple were also pictured in animated conversation with the Duke of Kent. Advertisement It is impossible to know if such a moment even presented itself. Kate might simply have been too busy keeping tabs on her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, whose cheerful presence delighted the crowds on their carriage drive with the Duchess of Cornwall. And there were up to 70 people in the room, many of whom would not have exchanged a word with the duchess for more than two years. More significantly, this was also the first time Kate and Meghan had been together since the Duchess of Sussex accused her sister-in-law in her TV interview with Oprah Winfrey of making her cry over bridesmaids' dresses. What a message a photograph of the two women chatting side by side would have sent. If they were prepared to project an image of togetherness to the world and let bygones be bygones, then surely critics would have followed suit. If there is one thing we have learned about Harry and his wife, it is their skill at curating an image through the use of pictures. Remember that first Christmas card after their wedding? Artfully arranged in black and white, it showed the couple silhouetted against the fireworks that concluded their wedding reception and with their backs to the camera. Us against the world, it roared. Judging by the pictures which did emerge from the Trooping viewing area – known as the Major General's Office – it would have been entirely natural if a photo of the two royal women together had appeared. For Harry this must be the hardest of homecomings, because he has been reduced to little more than a spectator. Unable to appear in military uniform like his brother William and uninvited on to the Buckingham Palace balcony, he might have preferred the obscurity of being among the cousins who reside far down the royal line of succession. On the occasion of the last two Jubilees in 2012 and 2002, the prince had enjoyed favoured status and a prominent role alongside William and Prince Charles, taking every curtain call and basking in the affection of the public. That affection is no longer guaranteed from Britons who have been wearied by his endless sniping at the royals, at the monarchy and at the country. RICHARD KAY: But if there were to be an opportunity to give the Queen the greatest Platinum Jubilee gift of all – photographic proof of family unity – it was won and lost in the hour or so when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex came face to face with their royal relatives in a viewing point overlooking the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade. (Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Prince Louis on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon) RICHARD KAY: What a message a photograph of the two women (Kate and Meghan) chatting side by side would have sent. If they were prepared to project an image of togetherness to the world and let bygones be bygones, then surely critics would have followed suit. (Pictured: Prince William and Kate smile as Prince Louis carries on waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony this afternoon) Crowds look up from The Mall as the RAF Red Arrows fly overhead after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on Thursday The tragedy is that before Meghan came along, Harry was the very essence of a popular 21st century prince. He was what every romantic expected a dutiful young royal to be – not only good-looking and a brave soldier, but someone who could laugh easily at himself. Indeed, laughter accompanied him everywhere he went. Meghan's arrival in his life changed so much of that. But was this her fault, or was it down to Harry's uncertainty over how to bring a fragrant Hollywood figure into the restrictive and highly controlled world of royal life? Rather than stay and use her undoubted talents as a force for change, they chose to abandon his heritage and his birthright for the riches of celebrity and life in California. It is tempting to wonder if his diminished role gave him pause for thought yesterday. Trooping the Colour was not his last chance to build bridges with his estranged family – and it may be there will be better, more intimate opportunities over the next three days. But if there is no lasting sign of family forgiveness, or at least rapprochement, he may regret squandering what must have presented itself amid the hurly-burly of that Trooping ceremony. The smile that says we're back: Prince Harry and Meghan roll down car window and beam at crowds as they are reunited with royal family at Trooping the Colour parade - while Queen returns to Windsor By Danyal Hussain, Mark Duell and Laurence Dollimore for MailOnline Meghan Markle rolled down her car window and flashed a smile at the watching crowds as she and Prince Harry were reunited with the royal family during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations today. The Duchess of Sussex, 40, was in high spirits as she gazed out of the window, with a more reserved Harry, 37, peeking over her shoulder while they travelled through throngs of royal fans near Buckingham Palace at around 12.20pm. The video of the couple emerged as the Queen was spotted arriving back at Windsor Castle this afternoon, after kicking off her Platinum Jubilee and joining senior royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Building manager Emily Sevenoaks, 28, said she had no idea it was the Sussexes when she decided to start filming on Cleveland Row in St James, central London. 'I Honestly had no idea it was them,' she told MailOnline, 'I heard police escorts and flew over with the camera ready and then I realised mid filming... I was very lucky!' She said the black Audi and police escort had come out of the gated Stable Yard road, which allows access to Clarence House and St James's palace. A smiling Meghan Markle looks out of the window as she and Prince Harry travel through crowds near Buckingham Palace today The Duchess of Sussex, 40, was in high spirits as she gazed out of the window, with a more reserved Harry , 37, peeking over her shoulder The couple were believed to be on their way to Buckingham Palace ahead of the historic flypast, which featured 71 aircraft. Social media users were quick to comment on the clip, with one Twitter user declaring: 'Her smile says 'I'm baaaackk b*****s.' [Sic]. Others said Harry looked 'stressed', while another added: 'Harry is already on high alert. Look at his face.' Tougher critics mocked Meghan for rolling the window of the car down after Harry recently claimed he was 'unable to return home' from Los Angeles because the UK was too dangerous. It comes as he is taking legal action against the Home Office after being stripped of permanent police protection after quitting as a frontline royal. One Twitter user jibed: 'When you are petrified about security issues but still choose to pull the window down for a photo-op in the Queen's procession.' The Sussexes were not allowed on the Buckingham Palace balcony today, following Megxit, but did join other royals in the Major General's Office overlooking Horse Guards Parade in central London for Trooping the Colour. An animated Meghan appeared to playfully 'shush' a group of young royals as they stood at a window overlooking the parade, while Harry was later seen mimicking the gesture in a separate photo. Though their appearance ended months of speculation on whether the Sussexes would attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there was no sign of their children Archie and Lilibet, who are also believed to be in the UK. After the appearance of the Sussexes, the Queen took centre stage as she was joined by other royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony in front of tens of thousands of cheering Britons. The 96-year-old monarch, who wore her Guards brooch and the blue Angela Kelly outfit used in her official Platinum Jubilee portrait, exclaimed 'incredible!' when she took the salute after arriving from Windsor Castle. The Queen then returned to the balcony around half an hour later to watch the RAF flypast featuring the Red Arrows along with senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate and their children.