Harry & Meghan's high-profile friends desert couple, afraid personal details will go public

King Charles, royals ‘split’ over Prince Harry and Meghan going to Coronation

Vanessa AllenDaily Mail

Senior royals are split over whether Prince Harry should be invited to his father’s Coronation, it was claimed on Sunday.

The King wants his youngest son to be there — and was said to be prepared to offer the Duke and Duchess of Sussex significant concessions to persuade them to attend.

But Prince William reportedly fears that his brother could stage a “stunt” that would overshadow the Westminster Abbey ceremony in May, for example by organising a walkabout with Meghan in a deprived area.

His concerns follow the release of Harry’s memoir Spare, which contained a series of incendiary attacks on the royal family.

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However, Charles is said to believe that Harry and Meghan’s absence would be a greater distraction than their attendance. So he has allegedly asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to broker a deal to allow Harry to attend.

The King (left) wants his youngest son (right) to be there — and was said to be prepared to offer the Duke and Duchess of Sussex significant concessions to persuade them to attend.
Camera IconThe King (left) wants his youngest son (right) to be there — and was said to be prepared to offer the Duke and Duchess of Sussex significant concessions to persuade them to attend. Credit: Getty Images

Sources told The Mail on Sunday that Harry could be offered inducements, such as a high-profile seating position inside the Abbey or an informal assurance that he would be allowed to keep his royal titles.

But alongside William’s fears, royal insiders are wary that attending the Coronation could provide fodder for further revelations by the couple, who have spoken of their experiences in interviews and a Netflix series.

A source said: “The family is split. Harry’s camp made clear that the idea that he would just attend the Coronation and behave himself but then be stripped of his titles was a total non-starter.

“He resents being lumped together with Andrew in the public mind as the two ‘problem princes’.”

A poll last week found two-thirds of the public believed Harry should be invited. Although Buckingham Palace has stayed silent about the allegations in Spare, the King was said to be “livid” about Harry’s attacks on the Queen Consort Camilla, who he called a “villain”.

Harry also claimed the Palace planted negative stories about Meghan in the media. He has called for a reconciliation — but only if his family apologise.

Lambeth Palace and Buckingham Palace both declined to comment.


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