Despite likely not having an official role in the coronation and not participating in other planned events, such as a Buckingham Palace balcony appearance, Prince Harry is still willing to attend. A source close to the royal household says that his main concern about attending was the issue of security, but that has been addressed.
Meanwhile, Meghan will stay in California with their children, as their son Archie’s fourth birthday falls on the same day as the coronation. “It’s an elegant solution,” says royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith. “But those closest to the couple know that the media backlash Meghan faced in the U.K. during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last year — and in the seven months since — played a significant role in her decision not to come.”
While Meghan’s relationship with her in-laws started on a positive note, tensions eventually led to the couple’s decision to step back from their royal roles in 2020. Despite the circumstances, a palace insider confirms that it would have been significant if Prince Harry hadn’t attended his father’s coronation, but they’re not surprised that Meghan isn’t coming given the circumstances.
Ultimately, Prince Harry’s upcoming trip to the U.K. will allow him to play his part in the coronation and witness his father’s crowning, which he can share with his children. “He will look back on it and think it is better to come and say, ‘I saw my father crowned,'” says the source close to the royal household.
