Charles ‘trying to heal the royal rift with Harry and Meghan’ ahead of his Coronation with photo

King Charles’ decision to include a family photo featuring Harry, Meghan, William, Kate and their children in the official Buckingham Palace souvenir coronation program is an “olive branch” toward California, experts told MailOnline today.

The smiling photo was taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson to mark the monarch’s 70th birthday in November 2018 – six months after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wed at Windsor.

The rare, relaxed private photo in the gardens of Clarence House 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.

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.

Experts have said the king’s choice of such a happy photo is “an attempt to show that Meghan and Harry are still beloved members of the family,” royal commentator Phil Dampier said.

Biographer Tom Bower said the choice of image is an attempt to “hide the truth” about how Megxit tore them apart, while commentator Richard Fitzwilliams claimed the decision is simply to avoid being accused of leaving the pair out because Harry and Meghan are “deeply aware of what they consider contempt.”

Charles wants his coronation to help heal wounds in the royal family, experts say

Mr Dampier told MailOnline: ‘Using the photo with Harry and Meghan is another olive branch from the king and an attempt to show they are still beloved members of the family.

‘Of course we know that relations have already come under pressure, but it is a cheerful image that radiates harmony and unity.

“It mostly reminds us of what could have been and how sad it is how things have unfolded.

“Harry and Meghan could have been royal superstars and helped modernize the monarchy and push it forward well into the century.

“But now the slimmed-down monarchy struggles with numbers and depends an awful lot on William and Kate.

“The King hopes Harry’s presence at the coronation is the start of a healing process, but I don’t see the few days Harry will be here as an opportunity for meaningful peace talks.

“The king will be too busy and William has no interest in speaking to his brother.”

Royal biographer and investigative journalist Tom Bower told MailOnline that the choice of the 2018 photo comes at the right place – but it is also a ‘sad’ reminder of the split between him, William and his youngest son.

He said: ‘Charles is desperate for a successful coronation. He will sacrifice everything to hide the truth. Publishing the photo only reminds us of a sadly missed opportunity – but Charles is certainly not to blame.’

Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘Yesterday the palace launched the official coronation souvenir programme. Illustrating one of the articles extolling the king’s virtues is a family photo – just after Sussexes’ wedding in May.

‘She [the Sussexes] are deeply aware of what they perceive as contempt, and reportedly were dismayed when their photo did not appear among those shown in the Queen’s 2019 Christmas broadcast.

‘This is a joyful reminder of days gone by, when they were regarded as the contemporary face of the monarchy, after a wedding that thrilled the world.

Harry’s reported schedule when he attends the coronation does not allow him to accept olive branches, even if they are offered. That can of course change. However, they want the royal family to apologize for the way they, especially Meghan, were treated. They don’t get this.”

Historic: The Cover of the Coronation Souvenir, a £10, 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

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 portion 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 £10.84-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.