Although Prince Harry was present at King Charles III’s crowning event on May 6, the Duke of Sussex was conspicuously missing from the balcony gathering with his brother, Prince William, and other high-ranking royals.
Following the official conclusion of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6, the newly anointed monarchs made their first appearance on Buckingham Palace’s balcony.
In accordance with custom, other active royals accompanied the couple for this memorable occasion, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Lady Louise Windsor. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis greeted the crowd as well. However, the lack of Prince Harry’s presence alongside them fueled royal spectators’ curiosity.
What was the reason?
The appearance of Charles and William with other family members comes nearly three years after the Duke of Sussex declared that he and Meghan Markle would step away from royal responsibilities. Family tension has only seemed to increase since then, further complicated by the recent launch of Harry’s revealing memoir, Spare. (For a comprehensive timeline, click here.)
Furthermore, the balcony gathering of the royal family is typically reserved for working members, and this occasion was no exception.
A Royal Rundown of Attendees at King Charles III’s Crowning Ceremony
“Harry has penned an entire book about feeling overshadowed by his brother throughout his life,” royal reporter Sharon Carpenter told E! News exclusively before the crowning ceremony. “So, I believe this was Charles’ chance to genuinely demonstrate to Harry, ‘You are just as important as Prince William when it comes to family.'”
Harry reunited with his cousins Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, while Meghan remained in the U.S. with their children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 22 months. The day marked not only Charles and Camilla’s crowning but also Archie’s birthday.
“It’s a bit difficult to say, ‘Apologies, your celebration must be postponed, your granddad takes precedence,'” Carpenter mentioned, adding, “Harry is meeting his obligations. I believe this is the most straightforward and likely the optimal solution.”
