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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

Eight excruciating confrontations Harry and Meghan could be forced to have at Coronation

If Prince Harry and Meghan Markle do attend the Coronation of King Charles III, they could face a large number of awkward confrontations.

The question on everyone's lips is whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will fly over from California for the momentous occasion.

The couple have confirmed they have been invited as part of the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey - but they have not revealed if they will be part of the celebrations.

There are a number of key issues, with relations between Harry and his family at an all time low, and the historic event awkwardly takes place on Archie's birthday.

If they do decide to go, they will have to face the music and could bump into a lot of people they have thrown allegations at.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie and Meghan are not the closest of friends (PA)

One of the most awkward interactions that the Coronation will throw up is between Meghan and Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh.

Sophie, the former Countess of Wessex, was duty-bound to curtsy to the Duchess of Sussex due to Meghan being of higher rank, but now this is not the case after receiving her new title.

A friend of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh told Daily Mail: "Sophie is relieved. She no longer has to curtsy to someone in the family who has not only left Royal duties but has spent the past three years criticising the institution that Sophie works so hard to support."

The late Queen Elizabeth II actually wanted Prince Edward and daughter-in-law Sophie to become mentors to Harry and Meghan when the former Suits actress joined the Royal Family.

According to a book, Meghan "made it clear" she didn't need Sophie's help and would instead rely on her new husband.

But author and friend of the royals Gyles Brandreth in his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, he writes: "The Queen (who, of course, had seen it all before) understood that Harry's girl might find adjusting to Royal life 'challenging to begin with' (as she put it). 'It is very jolty, but you soon get used to it' – that was Her Majesty's experience going back many years.

"To help Meghan, the Queen suggested that her daughter-in-law, Sophie Wessex, would be an ideal mentor. 'Sophie can help show you the ropes,' said the Queen.

"Meghan made it clear that she did not feel she needed Sophie's help. She had Harry."

The public

Harry and Meghan will be seen by members of the public (Kirsty O'Connor/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Once loved by almost everyone, the Sussexes have slumped in popularity in recent years.

And it's been particularly bad in the last few months since the release of Spare and the Netflix series.

Harry had a net positive rating of 51 percent before Megxit, which then fell to 20 percent immediately after and further still after the Oprah Winfrey interview.

Meghan's popularity has taken a similar hit, going from a net positivity of 20 percent in November 2019 to -11 in January 2020 and now stands at -46.

Most recently, the couple had a serious fall in popularity in the US, taking them lower than disgraced royal Prince Andrew.

According to a poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton for Newsweek on February 19, Harry was disliked by 42% of Americans, compared to 32% who said they liked him — with a 'net approval rating of -10.

The same poll saw Harry at 38 points in a December 5 poll showing a staggering 48 point drop in.

In December, the pair were confronted by a heckler as they arrived at a New York awards show who shouted: "What do you think about destroying the Royal Family?"

There could be more hecklers on the streets during the Coronation.

Queen Camilla

Prince Harry called out Camilla in his memoir Spare (UK Press via Getty Images)

Harry has blasted a lot of the royals - but some of his strongest criticism has come against Queen Camilla.

Sources said the King was outraged by a string of Harry's accusations in his controversial memoir, in particular his attacks on his wife.

There were more than 60 mentions of Camilla in Spare - and the Duke of Sussex does not hold back his dislike for 'the Other Woman'.

Harry once pondered if she would become his "wicked stepmother" and says she would throw people under the bus to sit on the throne - and even turned his bedroom into her dressing room.

He claimed he and William begged Charles not to marry Camilla but they said they would welcome her into the family, and eventually only wanted her to be happy so she could be less "dangerous".

In a TV interview, Harry added: "She was the villain. She was the third person in their marriage. She needed to rehabilitate her image."

Charles was said to be furious at how his son has spoken about his wife - saying it "crossed the line".

Harry having to meet Camilla would be a very awkward moment at the Coronation.

The Bee, The Fly and The Wasp

The Wasp is said to be King Charles' advisor (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

No they're not a new set of spandex-wearing superheroes, but according to Prince Harry they are a trio of advisors who wield incredible power and each considered themselves to be 'The One True Monarch'.

Harry blasted the trio in Spare, who are believed to be the private secretaries of the senior royals at the time, in Spare.

Harry says they sorted the advisors into zoological categories, with The Bee being codename for the late Queen's private secretary, Sir Edward Young, according to The Times.

The Wasp is believed to be King Charles' private secretary, Clive Alderton, while The Fly is reportedly Prince William's, Simon Case.

In the book, Harry explains that he spent his life dealing with courtiers but now it is mostly just three "middle-aged white men" who had consolidated power "through a series of bold Machiavellian manoeuvres".

Describing them as "usurpers", Harry adds: "Deep down, I feared that each man felt himself to be the One True Monarch, that each was taking advantage of a Queen in her nineties, enjoying his influential position while merely appearing to serve."

There might be an awkward reunion with the trio.

King Charles

Charles and Camilla chatting to Meghan in 2018 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Perhaps the biggest tension rests between Harry and his father after the family's dirty laundry was aired in his autobiographical memoir Spare and in his Netflix docu-series with Meghan.

He alleged Charles and William were conspiring against him and revealed private conversations from Prince Philip's funeral.

King Charles obviously crops up a lot in the book, with Harry writing about the night his father told him that his mother had died and how he did not hug him.

Charles is said to have told his sons not to make his final years a misery and made a joke to Diana after Harry was born - saying his work was done now he had an heir and a spare.

The King also reportedly jokingly questioned whether he was Harry's father and made a joke in 'poor taste' about rumours James Hewitt is his real dad.

More recently, Harry has accused his father of being cold, revealing his parenting technique is to 'smother' his kids with 'love and affection', and claimed he "doesn't speak the same language" as the rest of his family.

And their relationship has become strained even further as Charles decided to kick Harry and Meghan out of Frogmore Cottage - the home which was gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to Omid Scobie, one of the authors behind the biography of Harry and Meghan, Finding Freedom, the couple was told the property was needed for "someone else" and that relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the Firm was at "an all-time low".

Scobie also said that Harry and Meghan were left "stunned" by the movie, while two other royals have also been left "appalled".

Royal sources have claimed Charles took decisive action immediately after being passed a dossier of findings by aides revealing details from Harry's explosive book.

An insider said: "It was the last straw. Harry was well aware how Camilla would be a red line for his father and he crossed with flagrant disregard anyway. The King felt without a doubt it crossed a line – it was the ultimate act of disrespect."

Harry reportedly wants a showdown meeting with Charles before the Coronation, but will it happen?

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are both no longer working royals (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan might be spending a lot of time with his disgraced uncle - as all three will reportedly not be allowed on the balcony if they attend.

But the outcasts might not be very chummy, as the Duke of Sussex commented about the Duke of York come when discussing his own security arrangements.

In 2021, Andrew paid millions to settle a US civil case brought by his accuser Virginia Giuffre.

The Duke of York stepped down from public duties following the fallout from his disastrous BBC interview with Emily Maitlis, where he was questioned about his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

He has always denied any allegations and has said he had no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre.

In Spare, Harry writes about his uncle: "He was embroiled in a shameful scandal, accused of the sexual assault of a young woman, and no one had so much as suggested that he lose his security.

"Whatever grievances people had against us, sex crimes weren't on the list."

Harry also awkwardly said Meghan believed Andrew was the late Queen's personal assistant during their first meeting because he was carrying her handbag.

So things might be a tad tense with Andrew if they do attend the Coronation.

Prince William

The Fab Four are no more (Getty Images)

The demise of the relationship between William and Harry has been sad to witness - and it doesn't look like they will make up any time soon.

Referred to as 'Willy' in Spare, Harry accused his brother of plotting with their father and revealed details of that sensational reported fight.

William allegedly pushed him to the floor during a row at his Kensington Palace home, leaving him with a ripped necklace and bruises.

Harry said William and Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi costume to a fancy dress party, which sparked outrage in 2005.

The Duke discussed being told by William to pretend he didn't know him at Eton and his brother's 'alarming' thinning hair.

Harry reportedly wants to speak to his brother before confirming whether he will attend the Coronation.

Princess Kate

Kate and Meghan clearly don't see eye to eye (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan seemed destined to have a strong relationship with Kate when they formed the Fab Four.

But relations started to sour and Harry detailed a number of rows between Meghan and the Princess of Wales.

Meghan upset Kate after she had given birth in 2018 by saying she must have 'baby brain' because of her hormones.

Harry claimed Kate admitted she made Meghan cry during a row over bridesmaids dresses before her wedding - and Charlotte burst into tears.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also jealous of the furnishing William and Kate had in their home and had to make do with shopping at IKEA.

They was very little interaction with Kate at the late Queen's funeral - and the same would be expected at the Coronation.

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