The attendance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at King Charles III's coronation on May 6 remains uncertain, as the couple failed to confirm their presence before the RSVP deadline. The April 3 deadline passed without a response from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, leaving organizers in a quandary, according to The Daily Mail Royal Editor Russell Myers.
In an interview with Sky News Australia, Myers noted that the couple hadn't returned their invitation reply even after the deadline. However, he believes they might be granted more flexibility than an average attendee. Myers also addressed rumors about the couple's demand to be included in the Buckingham Palace balcony lineup, stating that King Charles III had already determined that they wouldn't appear on the balcony, which is reserved for working royals and their families.
The lineup is expected to feature Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, among others. This means that neither Prince Harry and Meghan Markle nor Prince Andrew will be present, with the latter still in "exile" following his sexual abuse scandal.
There have been allegations that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle submitted a list of demands to attend the coronation, including the inclusion of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in the festivities. The couple also reportedly requested a celebration for Archie's birthday, which falls on the same day as the coronation. However, these claims remain unconfirmed.
In January, Prince Harry expressed doubt about attending his father's coronation during a promotional interview for "Spare," stating that "a lot can happen between now and then." Despite the uncertainty surrounding the coronation, Prince Harry made a surprise visit to London on March 27 to attend the preliminary hearing of his privacy case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Daily Mail.
While in the country, Prince Harry reportedly requested a meeting with his father, but King Charles III was "busy." Prince William was also away and unable to meet with his brother.
The question of whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend King Charles III's coronation remains a subject of debate among royal experts. Some argue that Prince Harry wouldn't be expected to bow to his stepmother, Queen Consort Camilla, whom he accused of leaking stories to the British tabloids in his memoir. Others maintain that King Charles III would want his family present at his coronation, as it is a family affair, and would want Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to attend.