It was “never likely” that Meghan Markle would attend King Charles III’s coronation, sources close to those planning the event say, after she was put in an “impossible situation” by the royal family.
Prince Harry is said to have spent weeks in negotiations with Buckingham Palace over the event, including discussing security arrangements and concerns about his family’s reception.
Buckingham Palace announced in a statement yesterday the news that Harry would be in the UK for the ceremony, saying it was ‘pleased to confirm’ that the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Meghan stays at home at the couple’s Montecito residence with year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday falls on the same day as the ceremony.
The news follows months of tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family following the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare.
The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6
Royal insiders today claimed that Meghan was put in an “impossible situation” by the royal family
While Harry flies to the UK, Meghan will stay in the US with their children Lilibet, one, and Archie, who will be four on coronation day
A royal source told the MirrorThe truth is that the Duchess would probably never be present at the coronation.
“The mood from California was that she felt increasingly in an impossible position and there is quite a sense of relief that the situation has been resolved after so much speculation and uncertainty.
“It is one thing to attend the funeral of the late Queen out of respect for Her Majesty, but quite another to attend the beginning of a new reign.”
A second source added that the Duchess is “damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t,” but added that she had decided to “do the right thing for her young children, which should be applauded.”
Earlier on Thursday it was revealed that the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has not been invited to the coronation – news that came as a shock to some royal fans.
Her ex-husband, the disgraced Prince Andrew, and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will all be in attendance.
Sarah attended the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of 30 guests for Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.
She was not invited to Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead – but did attend Harry and Meghan’s wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in May 2018.
Her lack of invitation to the coronation comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, although her ex-husband is still barred from most of life within the royal family.
Sarah herself has also enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join King Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham for Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen’s corgis.
She was also a favorite of the late Queen and they were known to spend a lot of time together, including walks in Windsor Park.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on June 3 last year
The king is planning a slimmed-down affair of previous ceremonies and will only have 2,000 guests in attendance.
Meanwhile, the couple’s friend, Omid Scobie, confirmed Archie’s birthday’played a part in the couple’s decision’ and he expected it to be a ‘pretty quick trip to the UK’ for Harry.
The Duke will only attend the ceremony itself, which will likely last a few hours.
Reacting to the palace announcement, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: ‘No doubt King Charles will be delighted to have both of his sons represented at his coronation. After all, it is literally the pinnacle of his life.
“He had the longest spell as Prince of Wales in our history and he used it wonderfully well for the good of others. Camilla is wonderfully supportive and also does important charity work.
Meghan will be with Archie on his fourth birthday. This is probably an ideal compromise.
“For months I hoped for a reconciliation, but after Spare, the interviews promoting it and the Netflix docuseries, it is clear that this is highly unlikely and that the rift between the Sussexes and the Royal Family is very serious.
The Sussexes are unpredictable. Their endless attacks on the royal family have been extremely damaging.
“They have affected its popularity especially among young people. This has become a kind of circus. They need to find constructive roles in which to use their talents.
“Harry is unlikely to have any part in the ceremony or appear on the balcony. He may appear in the procession after the ceremony. However, it would have been impossible for the Sussexes not to be represented at this unique event and expect to be taken seriously as members of the royal family in the future.”
More than 2,000 people will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the first event of its kind in 70 years, and the guest list is now starting to take shape.
Most of the royal family will attend the ceremony, led by senior members Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, along with their spouses and children.
Foreign dignitaries will include First Lady Jill Biden – but not her husband Joe – along with leaders from France, Spain, Belgium, Japan and Monaco, among others.
It’s not yet confirmed if Andrew will attend – and even if he does, he won’t be playing any special ceremonial role.
Royal sources have already dismissed the idea that he could play a significant role in the proceedings.
Andrew will also not be invited to stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other members of the family during the celebrations.
But today’s report in The Independent about Fergie’s absence is likely to surprise some royal viewers – with Meghan Markle’s friend Omid Scobie tweeting, “If true, this feels kind of cruel, doesn’t it?”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but cabinet ministers will not receive a ‘plus one’.
Organizers say space is very limited and the guest list will be similar to the Queen’s state funeral, where very few politicians were able to bring their partners.