King's Coronation news LIVE: Prince Harry confirms his attendance

2023-04-16

King’s Coronation news LIVE: Prince Harry confirms he will attend Westminster Abbey ceremony while Meghan Markle stays in LA with Lilibet

Here is MailOnline’s live blog covering all of the news surrounding Prince Harry’s confirmation that he will be attending King Charles’ coronation next month.

The Duke of Sussex will appear ‘quickly’ with royal family for the Westminster Abbey ceremony, while Meghan is not set to attend.

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Reacting to the news that Harry will attend his father’s coronation, royal expert for the BBC Nicholas Witchell said today that there is a ‘strong sense of betrayal’ felt by the royals in regards to the Sussexes’ actions.

He said: ‘So Harry is coming to the coronation but Meghan is not. It means that the Palace planners can complete the seating plan. They are overdue in delivering their answer.’

He added there is ‘a strong sense of betrayal within the family towards Harry. But at this moment, a moment perhaps of some reconciliation, he will be there to see his father crowned.’

Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry will attend the King’s coronation ceremony next month in a statement released earlier this afternoon.

A spokesperson said: ‘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.’

Buckingham Palace is ‘confident’ that King Charles’s coronation will ‘go to plan’ on the historic day despite claims of ‘chaos’ and ‘massive headaches’ behind the scenes, insider insists

Harry’s attendance comes despite the rift within the Royal Family prompted by the Duke’s decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling book.

A royal observer told MailOnline: ‘Charles will be pleased. The rest of the family will be relieved that Meghan won’t be there – it would have been particularly uncomfortable for Kate.’

Harry and Meghan had controversially delayed their decision over whether they would fly in for the ceremony, despite the RSVP date of April 3 having passed.

With the coronation less than a month away, some claimed that royal aides were in disarray over planning, including uncertainty caused by Harry and Meghan’s reluctance to say whether they will attend the ceremony.

However, an insider has rubbished the claims and said there was ‘huge confidence’ that all would go to plan on May 6.

The couple’s friend Omid Scobie confirmed Archie’s birthday ‘played a factor in the couple’s decision’ and he expected it would be a ‘fairly quick trip to the UK’ for Harry.

The Duke will only attend the ceremony itself, which is likely to last a few hours.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the dramatic news in a statement today, saying it was ‘pleased to confirm’ the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

While Meghan Markle will remain at the couple’s residence in Montecito, California, with one-year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday is on the same day as the ceremony.

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