Save articles for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
London: Prince Harry will put aside his pride – and seemingly his demands for an apology – in a public show of respect for the institution and family that just a few weeks ago he seemed hellbent on destroying.
It will be an uneasy royal truce and likely tinged with sadness, like an awkward reunion with those who were once loved ones at a family wedding or funeral. But likely to have been driven by fears of regret should he not be there.
The 38-year-old’s decision to see his father anointed as Charles III ends months of speculation and perhaps curbs what was threatening to become a media circus. It would likely have pleased his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was said to be heartbroken at the string of damning and appalling potshots fired against his family from across the Atlantic after he quit the household.
But while the King will have his son – with whom he was once immensely close – among the 2000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey, his daughter-in-law and grandchildren will not be there.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex had spoken in glowing terms about her father-in-law, who walked her down the aisle on her wedding day, but now she has shown she is not bound by any ties to the royal family or to the UK.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.Credit: Daniel Leal-Olivas
Reports say she wished to stay at home with the couple’s eldest son, Archie, who turns four on the same day.
It seems more than likely the relationships between Meghan and the rest of the family, particularly Catherine, the Princess of Wales, are irreparable. In his contentious memoir, Spare, Harry revealed the extent of the demise of the friendship between his wife and his sister-in-law.
He claimed the princess had demanded an apology from Meghan after she suggested Catherine had “baby brain”. Catherine was also alleged to have complained to her sister-in-law that they were not close enough to talk about her hormones.
The Sussexes are also said to have been concerned about how Harry and Meghan’s attendance at the coronation might be received by the British public. It’s unlikely that Meghan would have wanted to risk running the gauntlet of egg throwers while watching William and Kate’s children taking part in a procession and being front and centre on the balcony.
King Charles III.Credit: Getty Images
It can’t have been an easy decision. In countless television appearances last year, we discovered just how tight of an emotional unit “H and M” really are.
But there will be a large proportion of people who can’t blame Meghan for remaining behind in the couple’s home in Montecito, California, with their two children. Despite her lack of self awareness, she has endured more in public life than she has deserved. If she has chosen to stay at home to protect her children, then perhaps that is understandable.
But relieved coronation organisers will now be able to finalise arrangements, including the seating plan, security and transport. A so-called “royal source” had previously briefed Fleet Street’s finest that organisers were “exasperated” with the couple, who missed the RSVP date when making their decision.
Harry’s airing of grievances over the past months has imposed serious damage on the royal family’s standing. He’d been clear he wanted a summit with the King and his brother William to discuss their issues before the coronation.
But given the gratuitous details of private conversations he has revealed, it has appeared they have no desire to pander to his wishes. They do not acknowledge that they have anything to apologise for.
The circumstances have not helped the stuttering start to the King’s reign. The Mirror, one of Britain’s punchiest tabloids, had on Wednesday reported that coronation planning had been “throne into chaos” (get it?) after rehearsals ran significantly overtime, prompting fears viewers would switch off.
The paper reported that with little more than three weeks to go, organisers faced a “race against time” to finalise details of the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort’s historic crowning.
They include fears the King could stumble over his elaborate robes in front of a 100-million TV audience, rows over the coronation route, confusion over whether women would wear tiaras into the church before Camilla enters the Abbey, and Prince Andrew’s fury over a potential ban on wearing Garter Knight robes after his exile from the royal family.
That is a rather remarkable list of problems. Perhaps an old-fashioned family dust-up will be the most unremarkable part of the day.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.
Most Viewed in World
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
