EXCLUSIVE Palace expects Harry and Meghan to attend Coronation

Buckingham Palace is making plans for Harry and Meghan to attend the King’s coronation, The Daily Mail can reveal.

Staff organizing the logistics for the historic occasion have been instructed to include the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their program for May 6, sources said.

Insiders warn there is no word yet that the couple have formally accepted King Charles’s invitation, which their spokesman said was recently sent “by email” to them in California.

It’s likely that negotiations over what events the couple would attend, where they’d sit, what they’d wear and, of course, their safety, would go to extremes.

But the fact that officials from the Master of the Household’s Department and Lord Chamberlain’s Office are expecting their presence is the strongest suggestion yet that the Sussexes could make an appearance, despite spending much of the last three years have spent time throwing stones at the monarchy as an institution as well as the rest of the royal family.

Staff organizing the logistics for the historic occasion have been tasked with including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their program for King Charles’ coronation (pictured) on May 6, sources said.

Insiders warn that there is no word yet that the couple have formally accepted King Charles’ invitation. Pictured: King Charles and Prince Harry at Windsor Castle last September

A source told the Mail last night: ‘Harry and Meghan are included in the whole planning… the cars, the seats, dining arrangements, everything.

“Nobody’s sure if this means they’ve definitively accepted it – of course it could be just in case they do – but it’s clearly not a ‘no’.

“The staff is definitely working on the expectation that they come. You have to make these kinds of agreements well in advance.’

A second source with knowledge of Harry and Meghan’s thoughts on the matter supported the suggestion they could fly over, saying: “The indication is that they are, although there is a lot to clear up first.”

A spokesman for the Sussexes revealed last week: “I can confirm that the Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty’s Office regarding the coronation.”

Meghan Markle in front of a restaurant in West Hollywood yesterday

The Duchess of Sussex was photographed leaving the Gracias Madre restaurant in West Hollywood yesterday

But they added: “An immediate decision on whether the Duke and Duchess will attend will not be announced by us at this time.”

An appearance at the first coronation of a British monarch in 70 years would certainly polish the couple’s royal credentials.

Their time as working royals and relationships with relatives have formed the basis of their biggest US media deals to date.

This week’s news that the couple have decided to publicly name their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet has also been interpreted as another sign of their continued determination to maintain a connection with the British monarchy, despite their ruthless attacks on it.

The king has seen his grandson, who will be four on the day of his coronation, only a few times since he was born. He has only met Lilibet, 21 months, once when she came to England with her parents for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

If they fly to the UK, it is likely that the Duke and Duchess will attend a minimal number of public events over the three-day celebration weekend, which is centered on the ceremony itself at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.

The Royal Family are expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards and Harry is normally expected to join his father, along with his wife.

It has already been suggested that this will be limited to working royals, avoiding unnecessary awkwardness around the Sussexes and the disgraced Duke of York.

However, the king could offer his estranged son another olive branch, as some in palace circles speculate.

But that would require a huge act of forgiveness from many family members present.

The Prince of Wales has privately made no secret of his anger at Harry’s behaviour, having seen a series of high-profile media interviews to promote his telling memoir Spare.

The estranged brothers have not spoken in months and William is in no mood to forgive what Harry has done to his family, especially his wife Kate.

But the Prince – who magnanimously invited Harry and Meghan to join himself and Kate as they met the crowd in Windsor after the late Queen’s death – wouldn’t stop his brother from attending, nor would he celebrate his big day. want to spoil father. sources say.

Since William will be participating in the ceremony and his brother will not, the couple may not even need to meet.

Pictured: Harry speaks with his father as his wife Meghan Markle watches at Trooping The Color 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pictured last year, have previously confirmed they’ve been invited to the King’s coronation

King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, depart after a visit to Bolton Town Hall on January 20, 2023

The Sussexes could use their visit to the UK to clear out their remaining possessions from Frogmore Cottage (pictured)

Harry, 38, is demanding an apology – or at least a full and candid conversation with his father and brother – if he were to attend.

But the Mail revealed last week that Charles, 74, and William, 40, are in no mood to comply with his demands.

The Sussexes could use their visit to the UK to clear out their remaining possessions from Frogmore Cottage, which they must now vacate by the start of the summer.

If they remain there, they are protected by Windsor Castle’s existing ‘ring of steel’ and are entitled to protection by the Metropolitan Police when traveling to and from official engagements.

Harry is currently taking legal action against the Home Office for removing his bodyguards from Scotland Yard when he and Meghan quit their royal duties and moved to California.

He has previously said he does not feel safe bringing his family back to the UK, although he did travel with them last year.

A palace source confirmed the Mail’s story last night, saying it was “always easier to make plans and make provisions that may have to be scrapped later than not to make any and then suddenly have to start them further down the road.”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.