Prince won’t be in official photos OR at the family lunch OR in the procession

Prince Harry is not expected to play any part in today’s coronation celebrations, apart from his brief appearance at Westminster Abbey.

Sources have told the Mail there are “no plans” for him to join the royal family at Buckingham Palace, take part in the family’s private lunch or even appear in photos.

And he will not take part in the procession back from Westminster Abbey or join his family on the balcony for the traditional public performance and flypast.

Instead, the king’s son – who is fifth in line to the throne – will be banished to the ‘and also’s’ in the abbey.

It came amid a blanket of secrecy over his arrival for the big day.

Sources have told the Mail there are “no plans” for him to join the royal family at Buckingham Palace, attend the private family lunch or even appear in photos.

The Duke of Sussex has not been seen in public for days and there was no sign of him leaving his California mansion or arriving in the UK.

Buckingham Palace announced last month that he would be attending and was expected to fly in yesterday and spend the night at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate.

Sources have stressed that he will be ‘in and out of the UK within 24 hours’. He plans to run back right after the two-hour ceremony to be with Meghan for their son Archie’s fourth birthday.

Insiders said last night they couldn’t rule out him having an unplanned heart-to-heart with his dad after he lands in the UK.

“Of course you can never say never,” said one. Everything is possible, especially with him. And His Majesty loves his son in spite of everything.’

But others felt that this was extremely unlikely.

“Frankly, it seems a little pointless that he’s there. His place in the pecking order couldn’t be more obvious,” another source told the Mail.

Being present is probably the right thing for him in the long run. At least he can say he made the effort to be with his dad on his big day… But the red carpet is definitely not being rolled out and as it stands now he will just be another member of the congregation . ‘

Buckingham Palace announced last month that it was ‘happy to confirm’ that Harry would be attending his father’s ceremony. There had been speculation for months about whether he and possibly Meghan would attend.

It came after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a six-part Netflix docuseries in December in which they suggested William was “trapped” and claimed they weren’t being treated well by the royal family.

In January, the Duke of Sussex published intimate details about his family’s private life in his memoir, Spare. This all followed the Sussexes’ extraordinary Oprah interview in 2021, in which they claimed an unnamed family member had asked what skin color their baby would be.

Despite the lingering hostility towards his family, King Charles was eager to extend an olive branch and invited his son to the coronation.

Harry made him wait until the last minute before Buckingham Palace announced he would come alone.

Royal officials were said to be unable to sign seating, transport and security arrangements as the Duke’s confirmation came after the official RSVP date.

The coronation organizers admitted they were stressed about Harry’s plans, saying it was like “trying to communicate with Mars.”

Royal insiders told how they sought confirmation ‘when he comes, when he goes back and if he is happy with his sitting position in the abbey’.

Meghan stays behind with Lilibet, one, and Archie, whose birthday is today.

Meghan announced this week that she has signed a deal with a talent agency representing Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, LeBron James and Serena Williams.

It is expected to bring her tens of millions of dollars and will likely see her back in the spotlight.