Prince Harry to attend King's coronation without Meghan Markle
It has been confirmed Prince Harry will attend the King's coronation, but Meghan will remain in California with their children, ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship has the latest
Prince Harry will attend the King’s coronation but Meghan will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Harry, who laid bare his troubled relationship with the royal family in his controversial Netflix documentary and autobiography Spare, will be there to witness Charles and stepmother the Queen Consort be crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Meghan will not travel to the UK and instead stay in the US with the couple’s children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who live in Los Angeles.
The Palace said in a statement: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May.
“The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Archewell, Harry and Meghan’s charitable foundation, issued a near identical statement to Buckingham Palace confirming the duke will join guests at the coronation.
A spokesperson said: “The Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
The news ends months of speculation about whether the couple would show up to the King’s big day, but will undoubtedly see Meghan accused of snubbing the monarch and the royal family.
May 6 is her son, Archie’s fourth birthday.
The announcement comes as the plans for the King’s coronation have been revealed, including the procession route, the carriages and the priceless Crown Jewels chosen to take centre stage.
The King and Queen Consort will travel in a shorter procession route than the late Elizabeth II, opting for a much less bumpy ride on their outward journey.
In a break with tradition they will only using the elaborate 260-year-old Gold State Coach one way – on their return.
They have decided to make the 1.3 mile outward journey from Buckingham Palace – known as the King’s Procession – in the more modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which has shock absorbers, heating and air conditioning.
This will be the first time Prince Harry is seen with the royal family since publishing his hit tell-all biography Spare, which became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever according to its publisher.
News that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation follows his appearance in London to give evidence in the Royal Courts of Justice during a High Court hearing over multiple privacy claims brought against the Daily Mail's publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
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