End of an intense suspense: despite his attacks on the British monarchy, Prince Harry will attend the coronation of his father Charles III on May 6 in London but without his wife Meghan or their children who will remain in California.
The response of the “Sussex”, who left with a bang in 2020 to live in the United States, had been eagerly awaited since the announcement in early March of their invitation to the coronation.
Their presence or not has given rise to a lot of speculation in the British media as the couple have increased their attacks in recent months against the royal family.
A two-sentence statement ended the wait on Wednesday, nearly three weeks before the ceremony: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.” . “The Duchess of Sussex will stay in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Archewell, Harry and Meghan’s foundation, confirmed the information in a statement, just as short and even more sober.
Prince Harry, 38, has aired his differences with his family in recent months, first in a documentary released in December on Netflix, and especially in his controversial memoir entitled “The Substitute”.
In this book, which was a huge success in bookstores, he details the breakdown of his relationship with his father, King Charles III, and his brother William.
In particular, he recounts a violent argument with his older brother William, the heir to the throne, about his wife Meghan and accuses Queen Consort Camilla, who will also be crowned on May 6, of having revealed private conversations in the press.
The documentary and the memoir did not improve the already extremely low popularity of “Sussex” in the United Kingdom. They are never spared by the tabloids who, on the contrary, adore William and his wife Kate.
Due to her absence at the coronation, Meghan will “undoubtedly be accused of snubbing the monarchy and the royal family”, notes the British press agency PA.
The coronation on May 6 falls on the birthday of Archie, the eldest of the couple, who will turn 4 years old. This played a part in Meghan’s decision not to come to London, according to sources cited by PA.
Harry’s trip to the UK will be brief and he will not attend any other coronation-related events over the weekend, the sources say. He is expected to return quickly to the United States, leaving little time for family reconciliation.
It was not clear on Wednesday whether Harry will play a special role in the ceremony, whether he will join the carriage procession or whether he will appear on the palace balcony with the royal family.
But the response from “Sussex” must have relieved the organizers who were, according to the Daily Mirror, “exasperated” and could not finalize the seating plan in Westminster pending their decision.
Despite tensions with his son, Charles, 74, wanted Harry to be present at his coronation, according to sources close to the royal family.
Charles succeeded in September to his mother Elizabeth II, who died at 96 after 70 years of reign.
About 2,000 people are expected to attend his coronation at Westminster Abbey, which will be followed by a giant concert in Windsor, where one of the main residences of the royal family is located, west of London.
Harry and Meghan have only returned to the UK on rare occasions since leaving in 2020, including to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September.
The Duke of Sussex had traveled alone for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip in 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Harry also made a surprise appearance in London at the end of March at a hearing against a tabloid. But, according to PA, he saw neither his father nor his brother during this stay in the United Kingdom.
04/12/2023 23:24:15 – London (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
