ヘンリー英王子夫妻、女王の即位７０周年礼拝に出席へ　関係者

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】英国のエリザベス女王の在位７０周年「プラチナジュビリー」の一環で来月３日に行われる礼拝に、王室を離脱した孫のヘンリー王子とその妻メーガン妃が出席する予定だと夫妻の伝記作家が２７日に明らかにした。（写真は英イングランドのマダム・タッソーろう人形館でヘンリー王子とメーガン妃のろう人形の仕上げをするスタッフ 資料写真）
　夫妻に好意的な伝記を執筆したジャーナリストのオミド・スコビー氏はロンドンで報道陣に対し、６月３日にセントポール大聖堂で行われる女王の治世に感謝する礼拝に「夫妻は間違いなく出席する」と語った。
　１９８１年にチャールズ皇太子と故ダイアナ元皇太子妃が結婚式を挙げたセントポール大聖堂での礼拝は、プラチナジュビリーによる４日間の祝日に行われるメインイベントの一つ。
　スコビー氏は、礼拝はヘンリー王子夫妻がジュビリー関連の祝賀行事に参加する「初の公式」の機会になると説明。夫妻がだいぶ前から計画してきたことだとして、ジュビリー関連の行事によって王室の未来が「垣間見える」はずだと述べた。
　英メディアは、礼拝には夫妻も出席する可能性が高いと報じていたが、近しい関係にあるスコビー氏の発言で出席は確実とみられる。
　さらにスコビー氏は、夫妻の間に生まれたアーチーちゃんとリリベットちゃんが女王と対面する「特別な瞬間」を一般市民も目にできるだろうとしている。女王は、自身の子ども時代の愛称にちなんで命名され、６月４日に１歳になるリリベットちゃんにまだ会ったことがない。
　夫妻がリリベットちゃんの洗礼式を英国で行うとのうわさについて同氏は、自分の知る限り、ジュビリー行事の期間中に行うことはないだろうと付け加えた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/05/30-14:37）

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to attend a cathedral service early next month as part of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee year, their biographer said Friday.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, stepped down from royal duties and moved to California early in 2021. Since then they have visited the UK together only once.
Omid Scobie, who co-authored a favourable biography of the couple, told reporters in London: We'll definitely see Harry and Megan at the Thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral.
The service on June 3 will be really the first official moment when the couple join the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, he said.
That's really what they've been planning all along, Scobie said, calling jubilee events a glimpse into the royal family's future.
The service at the landmark cathedral where Harry's father wed Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 is designed to give thanks for the queen's long reign and one of the main events during four days of public celebrations.
British newspapers had reported that Harry and Meghan were likely to attend the service but Scobie's comment will be seen as confirmation, given his close links.
The queen's disgraced second son Prince Andrew -- who earlier this year settled a US civil claim for sexual assault -- is reportedly also planning to go.
Scobie said the public could witness a special moment of the queen meeting Meghan and Harry's two children, Lilibet and Archie, her great-grandchildren.
Lilibet -- who turns one on June 4 -- has never met her 96-year-old great-grandmother who was called the nickname when she was a girl.
He added there were rumours that Harry and Meghan would hold the christening of Lilibet in the UK, but to his knowledge, this would not happen during jubilee events.
Harry and Meghan's decision to move to north America, for privacy and financial independence, caused shockwaves through the royal family.
But it was compounded by public criticisms from the couple, including in a television interview when they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism.
The palace is bracing for more potential revelations from Harry in an upcoming autobiography.
In April, Harry and Meghan made their first joint trip to the UK since emigrating, seeing the Queen in private during a flying visit.
Scobie said Harry and Meghan will not be out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside prominent royals on June 2 to watch the Trooping of the Colour and a flypast.
But he said they could make a surprise appearance on June 5, when the queen may emerge onto the balcony again with family members.
The queen has suffered recent health issues that could affect her participation in national events marking her record-breaking 70th year on the throne.
British media reported on Friday that has gone to her Scottish estate of Balmoral for a short break ahead of the celebrations.