King Charles includes photo of Harry and Meghan in official Coronation souvenier programme
To emphasize his efforts to smooth over family quarrels, the king has included a photo of Harry and Meghan in the official Buckingham Palace souvenir program at the coronation.
The rare, relaxed, private family portrait was taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson to mark the monarch’s 70th birthday in 2018.
Shot in the gardens of Clarence House, the film shows Charles with Prince George on his knee, Camilla hugging Princess Charlotte and the then Duchess of Cambridge holding a baby Prince Louis.
Behind the couch, Prince William is standing next to his brother, who has his arm around a smiling Meghan.
The happy family photo belies the fact that behind the scenes, relations between all six adults fell apart.
In celebration of the monarch’s 70th birthday in 2018, royal photographer Chris Jackson captured a rare, relaxed private family portrait
Historic: The Cover of the Coronation Souvenir, a £20, 84 page publication, is a uniquely illustrated souvenir telling the life stories of Their Majesties and offering a preview of the Coronation Day, including the service
Meghan and Kate had a falling out over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress and Harry privately accused his family of not being supportive enough of his new wife, whom he married in May of that year.
It came as the Archbishop of Canterbury said the king will be anointed at his coronation, fully aware of his ‘difficult’ task as monarch and in recognition of how he ‘shares in our human frailties and vulnerabilities’.
Archbishop Justin Welby wrote in the official coronation souvenir program that Charles will trade his “garments of status and honor” for a plain white shirt for the private anointing at the May 6 ceremony.
He wrote of how the historic occasion will be one of “splendor” but also one of “silence and simplicity” in the ceremony when the king is privately anointed with holy oil under a canopy – in which forms the most sacred part of the coronation.
The king’s anointing is the only part of the coronation ceremony that the public will not see and will be a “private moment between a new king and the king of kings,” the archbishop said.
Elizabeth II was also anointed privately, as is tradition, wearing a plain pleated linen gown over her coronation gown, while seated under a gold canopy.
The archbishop said the king, clad in the simple white robe, will appear before God as a servant “fully aware that the task is difficult and that he needs help.”
He added: “In the full knowledge that, even as king, he is one of the people and that, even if he has a certain role to play, he shares in our human frailties and vulnerabilities.”
The service will move to the moment of the crowning if the mood turns to celebration, he added.
Prince Harry will attend the King’s coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6, but will not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after that, as that honor is strictly reserved for ‘working royals’
Buckingham Palace officials revealed that King Charles III’s coronation route is about a quarter the length of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years ago
The archbishop described how coronations “often carry with them the hopes and prayers of nations for peace, justice and the common good.”
The £20, 84-page publication is a uniquely illustrated keepsake telling the life stories of Their Majesties and offering a preview of the coronation day, including the service.
The program is published by Publications UK, who have also published the Official Platinum Jubilee Program and that of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
It is now on sale at WHSmith, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Waitrose and independent newsagents.
A percentage of street sales are split between two charities: the Royal Collection Trust and the Armed Forces charity SSAFA.
King Charles III – who loves everything with eggs and cheese – has feasted on a ‘Coronation Quiche’ to celebrate his coronation
Further details also emerged about the celebrations, with the coronation eve to be marked by a glittering Buckingham Palace reception attended by foreign royalty.
Princess Beatrix, the former Queen of the Netherlands, has confirmed her presence at the event, which is expected to be hosted by Charles, along with her granddaughter and heir to the Dutch throne Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will not be among the guests, which are likely to include British royalty and presidents and prime ministers from around the world, but will be at Westminster Abbey to see Charles and Camilla crowned.
Meanwhile, with just over two weeks to go until the May 6 ceremony, it was revealed that the King’s and Queen’s consort have personally chosen the coronation quiche as their celebratory recipe.
Seventy years after Coronation Chicken was created for the coronation of Elizabeth II, Charles and Camilla chose a personal favorite as their featured dish for Coronation Big Lunches.
The recipe is from royal chef Mark Flanagan and includes spinach, fava beans and tarragon.