How planners will avoid awkward encounters as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘will’ attend Charles’ coronation
PLANNERS have revealed how they intend to avoid awkward encounters with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the King’s Coronation.
Insiders say the “working assumption” is the pair will be at the May 6 ceremony, despite fears they may upstage the historic moment with uncomfortable reunions.
The Royal Family are still reeling from the revelations in Prince Harry’s biography Spare and the Sussexes’ tell-all Netflix bombshells including his fight with Prince William.
Harry also claimed William and Kate Middleton encouraged him to wear the infamous Nazi uniform, and accused Camilla of leaking stories.
But officials working on the Coronation plans say there has been no suggestion from Buckingham Palace that the Sussexes would be excluded from the three-day event to crown King Charles III.
With invitations to the 90-minute Westminster Abbey service due to go out this month, sources say Harry and Meghan will both make the 2,000-strong guestlist of royals, dignitaries and world leaders.
One official involved in coronation planning told The Sun: “They will definitely be invited, and we are working on the assumption that they will come.”
But planners say they hope the pair arrive in the UK earlier than the official weekend to avoid the first awkward meeting, and distracting from the historic day.
The source familiar with the planning added: “It would be helpful if they came earlier though so it’s not a total circus on the day.”
It comes after an insider revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not be welcome on the big day because senior royals fear what they say will “end up in paperback”.
The families of Princess Anne, 72, and Prince Edward, 58, were said to be concerned that private details of the Coronation will be exploited at a later date.
A source told The Sun: “There have been discussions among the family, including Edward and Anne.
“They do not want private conversations at the Coronation making it into the paperback edition of Spare.”
The concern came after an online survey for The Sun revealed 78 per cent of 31,300 readers want the California-based couple to stay away from the Coronation.
However, Harry has previously said he does want to be at his family’s big day, but insisted “the ball is in their court”.
The 38-year-old admitted “there’s a lot that can happen between now and then” but added “I really hope that they’re willing to sit down and talk about it”.
Hundreds of officials across Whitehall and the Foreign Office are working on the plans, with tens of thousands expected in the capital to cheer on the new King.
The special bank holiday weekend will see a series of processions and the King appearing on the Palace balcony twice.
After the service, the newly-crowned King and Queen Consort will take part in a large ceremonial parade known as the Coronation Procession.
As non-working Royals it is not yet clear what role the Sussexes would play in these wider festivities and balcony moments.