The Duchess of Sussex may regret her ‘foolish’ decision to miss the coronation, says Richard Kay, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail.
Prince Harry will attend his father’s historic event alone and Meghan Markle will remain in California, it was revealed earlier this week.
Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been better for both sides if she had decided to come.
“It feels like a compromise – Meghan stays away – I think she might regret that you don’t get many coronations in the next few years and that sitting ringside at a coronation seems kind of silly. accepted and came over,” he tells the program.
“I think it’s the wrong call. I think it would have been better for her and for the royal family if they had both been there.’
The Duchess of Sussex may regret her ‘foolish’ decision to miss the coronation, that’s the view of the Daily Mail’s Editor at Large Richard Kay
Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been better for both sides if she had decided to come
He added that despite Harry’s decision to come, it does not mean a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but a ‘ceasefire’.
“If they can put aside their differences to allow Harry to come, it might show that there is a path for the future.
“But one thing I want to say about this is that this isn’t a truce in the war between the Royal Family and the Sussexes, it’s more like a ceasefire.”
Richard Eden, editor of the Daily Mail’s diary, meanwhile, believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively “given in” his fight to get his family to apologize to him and Meghan.
“I think this is him really giving in,” he tells the show. “You may remember there was a series of comments during all those TV interviews he gave, telling them to sit down and discuss things, before they even considered whether they were coming, they wanted to apologize for that stuff like that and from everything I’ve heard, that just didn’t happen.
“Let’s be clear, I think that’s why Meghan isn’t coming because they don’t have what they wanted.”
After delicate negotiations, described in the Mail as a game of ‘transatlantic ping pong’, Buckingham Palace announced earlier this week that the Duke of Sussex will be attending the coronation ceremony.
Richard Eden, editor of the Daily Mail’s diary, meanwhile, believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively “given in” his fight to get his family to apologize to him and Meghan.
He added that despite Harry’s decision to come, it does not mark a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but a ‘ceasefire’ (pictured, King Charles and Queen Camilla)
But he will come alone, with the Duchess of Sussex to stay home with Prince Archie – who will be four that day – and Princess Lilibet, one.
His decision to attend Westminster Abbey’s coronation service has been viewed by royal insiders as a potential olive branch, following a previous demand that his family apologize to him and Meghan if they consider coming.
But he is not expected to take part in the procession after the service or join other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, or for any other celebrations.
Sources said Meghan’s decision to stay in California with the couple’s two young children had come as a relief in some circles, following fears her presence may have increased tensions in the family.
It is also clear that there was genuine concern in the Sussex camp about the public reception the couple would have received if they attended the coronation together.
Friends, including Meghan’s biographer Omid Scobie, suggested her decision was largely due to the coronation falling on the same day — May 6 — as Archie’s fourth birthday.
The couple had been responding to their invitation for weeks, causing difficulties for organizers in charge of complex planning, transport and security for senior members of the royal family, world leaders and other dignitaries.
Sources describe the negotiations as a game of ‘transatlantic ping pong’, and Harry would have wanted numerous assurances about arrangements.
On that day, he comes face to face with his father and brother in public for the first time since the release of his controversial memoir, in which he described a physical altercation with William and labeled his stepmother Camilla as “dangerous.”
Such is the sensitivity at Buckingham Palace to all things Harry and Meghan, only a small group of senior officials were parties to the talks between the royal family and the Sussexes.
Courtiers have stepped on eggshells for fear of being accused by the pair of ‘leaking’ information about their presence and provoking a new wave of attacks on the king in the run-up to his historic day. And while many in the royal family dispute much of what the couple claimed, they don’t want to make things any harder for the 74-year-old monarch.
In that case, the news was specifically timed for a double announcement on both sides of the Atlantic at 3pm UK time to minimize the flare-up of tensions.
A statement in London read: ‘Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will stay in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Harry is only planning a flying visit, with sources close to the Sussexes indicating yesterday that he won’t even be returning to Buckingham Palace to reunite with the rest of the family or take part in other events over coronation weekend. Mr Scobie tweeted: ‘Expect it to be a pretty quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry.’
Sussex supporters said he understood it was the most important day of his father’s life and felt it was right to be there despite his attacks on the family.
Harry has publicly called on his family to apologize to himself and Meghan for what they see as contempt. He also demanded that his father and brother sit down with him before May 6 to resolve their issues.
But insiders have told the Mail that Charles and William are both hurt and angry at Harry’s behavior – and neither man is inclined to give in to him.