The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, made a surprise appearance at his father’s coronation in London over the weekend.
Harry, who had been rumored to be avoiding the event due to his ongoing rift with the Royal Family, attended the coronation but left within an hour to return to the US and be with his wife Meghan and their two children.
Beforehand, much of the talk had been about whether Harry, his brother Prince William, and his father King Charles would have a chance to sit down and make amends. Their current rift has shaken the monarchy to its core, and many had hoped that the coronation would be an opportunity for the family to reconcile.
However, Harry decided not to stay for the private coronation lunch and a chance to meet with his family. Despite this, reports suggest that Prince William took a dig at both Harry and Meghan Markle during the event. It seems that the relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family is still strained, particularly where Harry’s relationship with his brother is concerned.
The tension between the brothers has been brewing for some time, ever since Harry and Meghan left the Firm and began publicly criticizing the Royal Family. Their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix show, and Harry’s upcoming memoir have all contributed to the rift between the brothers.
The two did briefly meet at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, but reportedly did not attempt to make amends. There was no eye contact or acknowledgment between the siblings as they walked behind the Queen’s coffin, and no meeting seemed to occur after their grandmother was laid to rest.
With King Charles set to be crowned on May 6, there was much speculation about whether Harry and Meghan would be invited – and if they would even attend. In the end, both received an invitation, although Meghan decided to stay in the US with the couple’s two children due to Archie’s birthday falling on the same day as the coronation.
Harry arrived in London on the day of the coronation, with reports suggesting that his trip to the UK would be a brief one. Months ago, it was rumored that other members of the Royal Family did not want Harry anywhere near them during the coronation, but this stance seems to have cooled.
During the ceremony, Harry sat next to his cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank. He spoke at length with them before the proceedings began, greeting several guests and seeming to be in good spirits. Although he may not be a fan of the monarchy anymore, he joined the other guests in one of many refrains of “God Save The King.”
Before the ceremony at Westminster Abbey had even started, it appeared as though Harry had already made up his mind about the Royal Family and what might happen moving forward. Speaking with The Sun, lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman picked up several things Harry is said to have told Brooksbank before the coronation ceremony began. According to Freeman, Harry was moaning and muttering that he was “fed up with the way they treat me” and that “it’s not an ideal situation.”
When Brooksbank tried to reassure him, Harry reportedly replied, “They don’t care.” It seems that Harry’s relationships with his brother and father are at an all-time low, and there was reportedly no sign of the trio reconciling while Harry was in the UK.
Prince Harry wore a black custom Dior three-piece suit with coattails, Afghanistan service medals, and jubilee medals on his medal bar, an honorary cross and military medals pinned to the left side of his chest while attending the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. He wore the star around his neck, which indicates he is the “Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order” (RVO), and it honors his personal service to the monarch of the Commonwealth. As he is not a working member of the Royal Family, he is not allowed to wear his military uniform anymore. During the event, Harry made a gesture to “ignore” his brother, Prince William, and King Charles when they arrived at the Abbey, according to language expert Judi James.
King Charles wanted to acknowledge his grandson Archie’s birthday, which fell on the same day as the coronation. During lunch at Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony, Charles mentioned Archie in his pre-meal toast, paying homage to “those that weren’t there” and wishing Archie a happy birthday “wherever he was.” However, Harry left the UK immediately after the coronation service had finished, which left Charles “genuinely disappointed,” according to Daily Mail sources.
Prince William held a speech during a big coronation concert held at Windsor, praising his father, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and taking a dig at Harry and Meghan for leaving the Royal Family behind. Harry did not stay in the UK for the private lunch, and he was reportedly not interested in interacting with the Royal Family, including William and Kate, during the coronation event.