After months of speculation, Buckingham Palace finally confirmed the RSVP response from the Sussex camp. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will be representing his family at the coronation of his father, King Charles III. The event is due to take place on May 6, 2023. And in true fashion to the soap opera drama that has plagued the royal family the past several years, the weeks leading to the coronation have been nothing short of dramatic.
There was Prince Harry’s request for an apology, the late RSVP response, and the supposed “demands” about seating and balcony appearances. Of course, most of this was speculation and quotes from “insiders.” How much of this chatter was fabricated? A Buckingham Palace PR stunt perhaps? Certainly, Meghan Markle and Harry Windsor claimed the institution is well-versed in media spin. Stassi Schroeder can relate.
Yet some media figures are trusted for their insight and connections to the royal family. Tom Bower is one such individual. Page Six recently interviewed the former BBC reporter and author of the carefully researched book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors.
“I think everyone’s delighted she’s not coming,” Tom opined about the royal family’s reaction. The author then suggested the former Suits actress was deterred from coming. After all, adherence to protocol and family hierarchy never seemed like the Duchess of Sussex’s strong suit.
“They made sure that she wasn’t going to come by making sure that she was told she’d have to curtsy three times, that she wouldn’t be in the spotlight, that she wouldn’t play any part in the whole thing and that if she came, they’d be put in row 54 in the back behind the column,” he added.
The official statement regarding Harry’s attendance was issued on April 12, 2023. It reads as follows. “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
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The couple’s eldest child, Archie, will turn 4 years old on the same day that his grandfather is crowned King. Some in the media speculated that the family would come to England together and celebrate the birthday between events. Just as they had done for Lilibet during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Yet, in a previous article, Page Six previously reported that Meghan reasoned it would be “inauthentic” to go given the current state of the family relations. “They had to make a decision that felt genuine and authentic, especially after everything that has been said and all the things that have gone down,” an insider for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said.
“The words that Harry and Meghan have said about the importance of their family are lining up with their actions,” the insider continued. “They care about their family, so Meghan is going to stay [in California] and Harry is going to support his dad.”
This is what’s been described as the best compromise for all involved. Prince Harry attends the event in support of his father, while Meghan cares for the children at their Montecito, California home.
Indeed, the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family seems beyond repair. The couple left their royal duties in 2020 in an attempt to regain control over their lives. Since then, they have made millions speaking out against the monarchy in books, podcasts, Netflix documentaries, and interviews. Bethenny Frankel called it a “money grab.” All that’s missing is a stint on Real Housewives.
Their interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 was the beginning of it all. Meghan revealed “very clear” suicidal thoughts from the treatment she received from her in-laws. Worse, she was pregnant with Archie at the time. “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” Meghan recalled.
She continued, “I would sit up at night, and I was just like, ‘I don’t understand how all of this is being churned out.'” Both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spoken out against the British media. They claim they were victims of smear campaigns orchestrated between the Palace and news outlets. Harry and Meghan expected to be spared this ill-treatment.
Perhaps skipping the event gives Meghan control of her narrative. She can avoid negative press coverage, as well as the family that allegedly drove her to near-suicide. Harry will reportedly be jetting back to California after the event to be with Archie on his birthday.
One other notable ex-royal will not be attending. Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew didn’t make the guest list. Yet she is taking it graciously in stride.
“You can’t have it both ways. You mustn’t sit on the fence,” the Duchess of York said on Good Morning Britain recently. “You’re either in or out, but don’t muck around.”
Interestingly, Harry and Meghan did attend two major royal events prior to the coronation. They were present at the late Queen’s funeral, as well as her Platinum Jubilee. They were met with audible booing from the public at that celebration. This time, Prince Harry will face it alone. And it’s the first time he will be seeing his family since his TMI memoir, Spare, was released.
TELL US- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TOM BOWER’S COMMENTS? IS THE ROYAL FAMILY “DELIGHTED” MEGHAN WON’T ATTEND? SHOULD SARAH FERGUSON HAVE BEEN INVITED?
[Photo Credit: Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images]
