King Charles reportedly felt more relief than joy upon Prince Harry's appearance at his coronation, reveals royal author Christopher Andersen. The Duke of Sussex made a swift visit to the United Kingdom for the event but returned promptly to California, coinciding with his son Archie's 4th birthday.
Andersen, an American journalist and author, opined that Prince Harry's attendance signaled a potential opportunity for reconciliation between the Sussexes and the royal family. "Harry's absence would have been a further indication that the rupture between the Sussexes and the royal family is irreparable," Andersen told Fox News Digital. He suggested Harry's presence showcased his loyalty to his father, the monarchy, and the royal family.
However, Andersen noted that King Charles could have made a minor gesture of goodwill towards Harry, which could have signaled a willingness to move past their disagreements. "Once again, as predicted, Harry was largely ignored because he is not a 'working royal,'" Andersen stated.
Prince Harry, who did not partake in the coronation ceremony or join the royal family on the balcony, left for California without attending a family luncheon. Andersen speculated on this hasty departure, indicating that the rift might have moved past the point of mere hurt feelings. "I just don't get the feeling that Charles is all that upset about the situation, other than it does not reflect well on him and is damaging to the institution of the monarchy," he added.
Meanwhile, body language experts weighed in on Prince Harry's demeanor during the coronation. Judi James told Page Six that the Duke appeared "cheerful to the point of cocky," seemingly oblivious to the events of the past few years.
Contrarily, Darren Stanton, another body language expert, told Entertainment Tonight that Prince Harry's smiles at the Abbey seemed forced. "A real smile is the whole face, where a fake smile is only the bottom half of the face gets engaged," Stanton stated. He noted that Harry's authentic happiness was more evident at the airport while he was preparing to return home.