King Charles and royal insiders reportedly have doubts that Prince Harry will attend the Coronation this weekend.
It comes amid claims that the Duke of Sussex gave no details of what day or time he would be arriving in the UK for his father’s Coronation, it has been claimed.
Fox News describes this as a “last-minute power play” by Harry and wife Meghan Markle “ahead King Charles’ coronation”. The US News network’s royal expert Neil Sean says that royal courtiers told him directly that Buckingham Palace was given no idea what plane Harry agreed to travel on or what day and time he was arriving ahead of the big day in London.
According to Sean, one “very good source” told him: “Until we see him at the castle gates being driven up by the Met Police security here in England, then we won’t believe he is coming and that tragically is the feeling of the king.”
He said that with Harry involved in a PR battle with his father and brother William, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “could get even more publicity if he fails to show up”.
Sean, writing for Fox News, launched a stinging attack on Harry and wife Meghan, accusing her of sitting back “idly waiting for an apology from the royals for making her relevant and internationally famous”.
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He wrote: “She declined the invite to the event of the decade because she wanted to stay home for a 4-year old’s birthday party. Truthfully, can anyone recall their fourth birthday?”
He continued: “I might add also the feeling from the new team pushing Meghan into the limelight — once again — would be a snapshot of her husband Harry at the coronation with her children both looking on adoringly missing their papa, while he stands alone in London, on a newly launched Instagram account.
“To finish off the PR plug, the text, I am told, will be something along the lines of being, ‘So proud of her husband and her children’, ensuring the limelight — at least sprinkles — a little in her direction.
“Would she dare though? The palace seems to think so. We shall await the next rumblings.”
In a further tirade against the US-based couple, Sean claims that Charles wanted to invite them to visit the UK for Christmas last year but was unable to make contact with Harry.
“I can reveal in fact they were both cordially invited way back late last year, with an offer directly from the king, to spend the festive season with them and the family,” he claimed in the Fox News article.
“The truth is they had no idea at that time on how to get in touch with Harry as his phone keeps changing due to ‘security’, so again not the truth but Meghan and Harry’s truth.”
According to The Telegraph, Harry’s decision to attend the Coronation pleased the King, who was keen to have the support of both his sons at the ceremony.
It reports a “source” as saying: “It is about showing up, showing support and being there for his father. It was a very personal decision, not a PR one.”
It says Harry is not expected to have any personal conversations with his father on the day of the Coronation because he is aware that it will not be the time or the place. He is also not expecting to have any meaningful conversations with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
