Meghan Markle news: Reason Duchess was separate from Queen and Kate on Remembrance parade | Royal | News



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The Duchess of Sussex sparked controversy after she was spotted on a separate balcony in Whitehall, away from other members of the Royal Family at the service.

Meghan stood beside Elke Büdenbender, the wife of the Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as the pair paid their respects to those who lost their lives during World War 1.

Royal fans were quick to notice how the Duchess was not stationed with other members of the Royal Family – Kate, the Queen and Camilla, who all stood together on a separate balcony above the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

However, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that the move was in fact a moment of prestige for Meghan.

He told the Sun Online: “The balconies overlooking Whitehall occupied by the Royal Family are very small.

“The Queen was without Prince Philip who has retired and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge are future Queen Consorts.

“To be on a balcony with the wife of the German President, Frau Elke Büdenbender as Meghan was, obviously had a unique cachet.

“This historic occasion was the first time a German President or representative of Germany was involved in the ceremony and this was a highly significant moment of reconciliation.”

READ MORE: RARE exclusive WW1 photos of frontline medics in COLOUR in honour of Armistice Day

Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles, who were dressed in full military uniform, took to turns to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph to honour those who lost their lives during World War 1.

Charles laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in honour of his mother, while an equerry laid a wreath on behalf of the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Philip was not present at the Remembrance Day parade, and is believed to have been absent after officially retiring from royal duties last year.

For the first time ever, German President and his wife laid wreaths in a historic act of reconciliation between the UK and Germany.

Among those present at the parade were Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, wearing bright red poppies as they paid respects to those who died in the battle.

The Remembrance Parade was held to mark 100 years since the signing of the treaty to end the battle on the nearby Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A total of 10,000 people gathered at Whitehall yesterday to take part in the Nation’s Thank You procession, where they marched past Cenotaph.

In an address at the Westminster Abbey service, the Archbishop of Canterbury said: “We look back at the ruins and find that they have been rebuilt.

“We look forward, in a very different world and society, however great the challenges, and see that through the faithfulness of God and our loving obedience, conflict has been transformed, and enemies reconciled, and that is hope for the world.”

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