According to a royal author, Kate Middleton may be one of the reasons Meghan Markle is not attending King Charles III's coronation. This week, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry would be present at his father's crowning ceremony in the U.K. next month, but his wife and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will remain in California.
However, Tom Bower, a prominent royal biographer and former BBC journalist, claimed in a GB News interview on Thursday that Markle might have wanted to attend the historic event but was prevented from doing so by Middleton. International Business Times could not independently verify these claims.
Bower alleged, "We must all be grateful that Kate, in the end, I think, prevented Meghan from coming and said she 'wouldn't have her there under any circumstances.'" He added that if Markle were to attend, she would be seated at the back.
The author of the bestselling book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors" also discussed the significance of Prince Harry's attendance at his father's coronation. Bower claimed, "I do think that for the royal family, Harry's presence is constitutionally important." He explained that should anything happen to the Cambridges, Prince Harry would be next in line for the throne after King Charles.
However, Bower believes that Prince Harry will not join other royals on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on coronation day, even though Markle's absence might make it easier. He said that allowing Harry on the balcony would necessitate Prince Andrew's presence as well, which would be a poor start to King Charles' reign.
According to Bower, the coronation is an opportunity for King Charles to showcase his leadership style. He believes that Prince Harry should attend his father's coronation but remain "as invisible as possible."
Eloise Parker, a New York-based editor and broadcast journalist specializing in entertainment, lifestyle, and the British royals, suggested that Markle's absence might bring relief to Prince William and Kate Middleton. She told Entertainment Tonight, "I think there's bound to be some relief from William and Kate that Meghan won't be attending the coronation simply because less emphasis is going to be on them, who's looking where, who's lip reading, what's going on between them."
Parker added that Kate likely appreciates the reduced scrutiny resulting from Meghan's absence, as it allows her to maintain a semblance of privacy.
King Charles will be crowned with Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, six months after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022.