Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on the verge of confirming whether they will attend King Charles’s coronation next month, sources say, while the Duke of Sussex has “many questions about how the event will work.”
Buckingham Palace is making final preparations for the once-in-a-generation ceremony, which will see Charles ascend to the throne at Westminster Abbey on May 6, while Camilla becomes queen.
But despite the deadline for RSVPs reportedly passed on Monday, it’s clear the Sussexes have yet to tell palace officials whether they’ll be flying over from California for the service.
But a source told The Time“I hear they’re going to confirm their plans soon, especially now that Biden has.”
US President Joe Biden called Charles to let him know he will not be attending the service in central London, sending his wife Jill instead, in what some commentators have taken as a disapproval.
Despite the deadline for RSVPs reportedly passed on Monday, it’s clear the Sussexes have yet to tell palace officials if they’ll be flying over from California for the ceremony
Another source said Harry has “a lot of questions about how the event will work”
The New York Post reported that plans are being made to fly the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the coronation.
A source said: ‘There have been lengthy discussions between the Sussexes and the Palace.
“Of course there is a time limit. It is such a historic event and it is hoped that Harry and Meghan will be there.”
Another source said, “All families are difficult, but of course this is not a normal family.
“Harry has a lot of questions about how the event will go.”
The service is expected to be viewed by hundreds of millions around the world in what will become a masterclass in pomp and circumstance – despite the king’s decision to “slim down” the occasion.
If Harry and Meghan do attend the service, they will not take part in the coronation procession afterwards, nor will they join senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, it was previously reported.
Prince William will be the sole royal feudal lord at the ceremony, and he alone will kneel to “pay homage” to the king, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s cheek.
The action is usually performed by all royal dukes, but Charles scrapped the traditional obligation, effectively absolving Prince Harry of all ceremonial duties.
Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie, three years old, and one-year-old Lilibet, are too young to play roles at the ceremony. They are reportedly not invited to the event.
Royal author Phil Dampier previously told MailOnline: “They are too young to be involved in the actual ceremony, but of course the King would love to see his grandchildren when they come over and it must be heartbreaking for him that he never sees them.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020
Prince William will be the sole royal feudal lord at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to “pay homage” to the king, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s cheek
The Sussexes should not be expected to play a significant role in King Charles’s coronation if they can’t even decide whether to go, royal experts said this week.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam said the Sussexes “will almost certainly play no part” in the coronation.
He told MailOnline this week: ‘They want the royal family to acknowledge that they mistreated them when they were senior working royals and apologise. This will not happen.
Lili is not yet two and is almost certainly too young to attend, but the ceremony falls on Archie’s fourth birthday.
“Maybe he was present, although he is clearly too young for a part. They are reportedly not invited.’
He added: “Harry and Meghan will almost certainly attend as they would be isolated if they didn’t.
“If they will attend, and I expect they will, they will almost certainly have no part to play in the ceremony.
Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned at the Abbey and, at age 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest ever crowned
“The Royal Family knows how to deal with them and is all too aware of the damage they have deliberately done to the Royal Family for monetary gain.
“The conversation with other royals will be about the weather.
‘They will not, with good reason, be trusted. They only owe that to themselves and their declining viewing figures.’
Westminster Abbey will be filled with 2,000 people for the service – less than a potential guest list of 7,000 – including leaders from France, Spain and Japan, among others.
Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned at the Abbey and, at age 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest ever crowned.
The service itself, according to the royal family’s website, will be “solemn and religious” while offering “celebration and pageantry.”
While the start time has not been confirmed, Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony began at 11:15 am and lasted nearly three hours.
However, the Mail on Sunday previously revealed that the service is expected to last just over an hour.
It will be led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and ‘will reflect the monarch’s current role and look to the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions’.
Among them will be the role of the Page of Honor performed by Prince George and seven other boys.
In the historic ceremonial position, the eight youths – four for each monarch – carry the king’s and queen’s robes into the abbey.