Why Harry and Meghan may avoid King Charles III's coronation

Why Harry and Meghan may avoid the coronation: Royal expert says security fears over Prince’s Taliban claims, ridicule over memoir revelations and ‘seismic drop’ in public opinion are among reasons couple may reconsider

• READ MORE: How South Park savaged Sussexes over ‘world wide privacy tour’

Fears over security and the likelihood of public mockery are among the reasons Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could avoid King Charles III’s coronation, a royal expert said today. 

Richard Fitzwilliams said the couple’s need to make money from media deals ‘linked to their royal status’ would make attending arguably the biggest event in the royal calendar a tempting prospect. 

But he said the ‘seismic drop’ in their popularity since the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare – and increasing public ridicule epitomised by a recent South Park skit  – were two factors that could persuade them to stay at home. 

Mr Fitzwilliams pointed to a recent poll for Newsweek, which put Meghan’s approval rating at -13 and Harry’s -7 even among Americans – who have usually been far more supportive of the couple than Brits.   

He told MailOnline: ‘All their funds come from sources such as Netflix and Spotify, which are linked to their royal status. So it would look strange if they did not attend, since they will be invited and the event will be unique. 

Richard Fitzwilliams said Harry and Meghan’s need to make money from media deals ‘linked to their royal status’ would make attending arguably the biggest event in the royal calendar a tempting prospect

King Charles III at the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on May 10, 2022

‘It will have been of much concern to them both that a recent poll in Newsweek magazine showed a seismic drop of support following their attacks on the royal family when Harry’s memoir Spare was published. 

‘A lot of people have been laughing at them. Harry’s revelations about losing his virginity, experiences with drugs and penile frostbite have given rise to much mirth. Viewers of South Park have seen their desire for privacy mercilessly mocked and with reason.’ 

Mr Fitzwilliams said the Sussexes can also expect an icy reception from fellow royals, while Harry’s revelation that he killed 25 Taliban fighters would increase security concerns. 

Prince Harry’s legal fight with the Home Office to have police protection in Britain has already cost UK taxpayers £300,000 

‘They know perfectly well that they are not trusted – their revelations in the Netflix docuseries and most particularly Spare and the interviews promoting it will ensure members of the royal family only talk to them about the weather lest it go public.

‘There have also been threats of a further memoir as Harry claims Spare was originally twice the length. There is also enormous public and press hostility to them in Britain, this they know. 

‘Harry’s concerns over security, which will not be helped by his revelations about the number of Taliban insurgents he personally killed, may also be a factor as he has a case pending against the Home Office on this issue.’ 

Today, it emerged Prince Harry’s legal battle with the Home Office over police protection in Britain has already cost British taxpayers almost £300,000. 

The Duke of Sussex began a High Court Judicial Review 18 months ago after his right to guards was axed when he stepped back from royal duties. 

Although the prince offered to pay for police protection, he was told UK police forces were not ‘guns for hire’.

Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that the court case – which has been ongoing since autumn 2021 – has already cost the UK Government £296,882 to defend.

John O’Connor, a former commander at Scotland Yard, told The Sun: ‘To expect protection provided by the state is arrogant and irrational. It is only vanity anyway. He only wants protection because he thinks his importance is downgraded without it.’

Members of the Royal Family, including Harry and Meghan, gather at the Queen’s funeral in September  

The Duke insists his family requires round-the-clock protection, even though royal security is automatically in place for formal events as well as at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

It is understood the case against the Home Office will be heard in April.

The court case has been ongoing since autumn 2021 and a Freedom of Information request showed it had cost the full sum of £296,882 to defend.

Observers do not know if the ruling will be decided before King Charles’ Coronation on May 6.

Although an invitation has been extended to them, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle haven’t yet made clear whether they will attend the May 6 service.

King Charles III’s coronation: A timeline 

May 6

The King and Queen Consort will proceed to Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony.

After the ceremony they will take part in a second procession to Buckingham Palace, before appearing on the balcony.

May 7

Britons are encouraged to hold street parties and take part in the Big Lunch.

A celebratory concert will take place at Windsor Castle, featuring an exclusive performance from the Coronation Choir.

May 8

An extra bank holiday has been scheduled for May 8.

Members of the public are encouraged to spend time volunteering for charity as part of the Big Help Out.

The historic celebrations are set to be a world away from Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony, with millions of people tuning in live all around the world.

While Buckingham Palace is yet to confirm what the 74-year-old monarch will wear, it is believed that he will opt for military uniform instead of standard royal dress. 

He will reportedly not wear silk stockings and breeches as they ‘look too dated’ and he wants the ceremony to reflect a ‘modern 21st-Century monarchy’.

The King was said to be ‘happy’ to wear the same garments as his grandfather and great-grandfather, however senior aides said ‘he should not wear them’.

The monarch is allegedly expected to arrive in the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet, which he wore during the State Opening of Parliament last year.

He will also wear St Edward’s Crown, which was made in 1661 for the coronation of King Charles II. It is made of solid gold and features more than 400 gemstones, including six sapphires and 12 rubies. It weighs nearly 5lbs (2.23kg).

The celebrations begin on May 6 with The King’s Procession, where the King and Queen Consort will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach. 

It will begin from Buckingham Palace and head down the Mall before arriving at Westminster Abbey. 

As well as thousands upon thousands of cheering fans, the path will be lined by members of the armed forces including sailors, soldiers and airmen and women.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take part in the procession, possibly with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, may also feature. 

The Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal are expected to take part as Prince Charles’ siblings. It is thought Prince Andrew may also play a role – although it is unknown whether he will be able to wear military uniform, as he and Harry are no longer working royals. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take part in the Coronation procession, possibly with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

In a break with tradition, Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The ceremony inside the Abbey is expected to last 90 minutes to two hours, significantly shorter than Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony, which took three hours.

How will King Charles III’s coronation in 2023 differ from Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953? 

It has been 70 years since the UK last saw a coronation – and the world has become almost unrecognisable in that time.

The Palace has been keen to stress consistency between the ceremonies, insisting there will be plenty of pomp and pageantry to match 1953.

But the King has been keen to modernise where appropriate, and remind the world he is a ‘king of the people’ who celebrates diversity.

So just what will be different this time around?

• Just 2,000 people will be allowed inside Westminster Abbey, compared to 1953’s 8,000
• The ceremony will remain formal but be cut from three hours long to as short as 90 minutes
• King Charles is expected to wear military uniform rather than traditional breeches and stockings
• The Queen Consort will be crowned at the Westminster Abbey ceremony alongside the King, unlike the Duke of Edinburgh in 1953
• The celebrations will make use of modern technology to stream performances around the world
• A huge concert starring pop legends and refugee choirs will be held the day after the ceremony 
• The coronation will be streamed not just on TV, but on phones, tablets and computers across the globe
• A slimmed-down guest list means only top politicians from the Cabinet, Privy councillors and opposition leaders will be invited 

Around 2,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremony, which has been described as ‘solemn’. 

On May 7 a huge concert will take place at Windsor Palace, and The Big Lunch charity will encourage street parties and picnics around the country.

British rock and pop icons will perform alongside a choir of refugees, NHS staff and LGBTQ+ singers in a strikingly diverse event at Windsor Castle the day after the coronation. 

A dazzling display will shine on iconic national landmarks in a ‘centrepiece’ moment of the concert on May 7. The ‘Lighting Up The Nation’ display will feature ‘projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations’ beamed on buildings across the UK.

Tens of thousands of Coronation Big Lunches and parties will be held in the UK and Commonwealth on Sunday and across the weekend. Big Lunches take place across the UK annually and last year they raised more than £22million for local charities. 

There will also be the Big Help Out – a special bank holiday commissioned by the King in honour of the coronation, and celebrating volunteering groups. 

Created by Britain’s best loved charities and organised by The Together Coalition, it will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

Hundreds of activities are planned for the day by local community groups, organisations and charities including The Scouts, Royal Voluntary Service, National Trust and RNLI.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of York are ‘unlikely’ to join the King and Queen Consort on the balcony during the Coronation.  

As with the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year, the line-up of royals alongside them will be restricted to working members of the family. That will exclude Prince Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew, who no longer carry out official duties.

Prince Andrew stepped down from his official role after allegations of sexual abuse in November 2019. He has always denied the accusations.

Harry and Meghan quit their roles three years ago when they left Britain to start a new life in California.

Earlier this month, Harry released a tell-all book revealing past and present grievances against his family. In a television interview to promote his memoirs, he refused to confirm whether he would attend the Coronation even if he was invited.

There is no indication from Buckingham Palace that Harry and Meghan would be barred from attending the event on May 6, which falls on the fourth birthday of their son Archie.

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