The royal family is reportedly perplexed by Prince Harry's decision to attend King Charles' coronation, given that he spent less than 28 hours in the UK. According to a source close to the family who spoke to Vanity Fair, the royals are left wondering "why Harry bothered to come at all," as the focus was primarily on the event itself.
Arriving in London on Friday afternoon, Prince Harry spent the night at Frogmore Cottage before attending his father's coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. This marked the first time he has seen his father since the release of his revealing memoir, "Spare," in January.
Interestingly, Meghan Markle, Harry's wife, did not accompany him to the coronation. Reports indicate that the Duke of Sussex did not interact with his estranged family outside the ceremony, even though he briefly visited Buckingham Palace during his short trip.
According to the Telegraph, Harry managed to slip "in and out of the monarchy's headquarters briefly without seeing the royal family." The seating arrangement during the ceremony also seemed to snub the duke, who was placed in the third row between Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie's husband, and Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Princess Alexandra. In contrast, the first row is reserved for full-time working royals, such as Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Despite his less-than-ideal seat, Harry was seen smiling during the event, although his view was partially obstructed by a large feather on Princess Anne's hat. A mere 24 hours after arriving in the UK, Prince Harry was already on his way back to Heathrow Airport, eager to make it home in time for his son Archie's fourth birthday party.
The source mentioned that Charles was "saddened" by the fact that he could not share this significant moment with his younger son. With the royal family still contemplating the reasons behind Harry's brief visit, it remains unclear how this fleeting trip will impact the already strained relations within the monarchy.