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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Ryan Merrifield

Harry and William worlds apart as Duke of Sussex looks on awkwardly from third row

Prince Harry and Prince William looked worlds apart during the Coronation of their father King Charles.

The Duke of Sussex wore an awkward smile as he was forced to watch from his relegated seat in the third row of Westminster Abbey.

His brother the Prince of Wales took centre stage, even planting a kiss on the monarch's cheek after he'd been crowned.

Harry, 38 - who was without wife Meghan Markle - was in jovial spirits despite ongoing rumours of a rift with the Royal Family.

The historical event came just months after he released his bombshell memoir Spare, in which he made further allegations against the Firm.

And while his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew was permitted to wear ceremonial Order of the Garter robes, Harry wore his medals pinned to a day suit.

He was seen on the TV coverage smiling and laughing with Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, as well as their husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edo Mapelli Mozzi.

He endured a solo walk down the aisle to his seat - with the Duchess of Sussex having opted to stay in the US to look after their children - and nodded at other guests.

Prince Harry looks towards his brother from the third row (Getty Images)

Harry flew into the UK on a commercial American Airlines flight on Friday morning.

He is expected to have stayed over in the home gifted to him by the Queen following his wedding - Frogmore Cottage.

And has been invited to a lunch at Buckingham Palace following the Coronation service.

It remains unclear if he has accepted the offer and is said to be keen to return to California for his son Archie's fourth birthday - also today.

The invite is seen as an olive branch from the new King.

Harry was in jovial spirits during the service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

During the live broadcast, a Sky News narrator said: "The Palace have told us that Prince Harry has been invited back to Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

"They would not say whether he has said yes or not, we know it's a flying visit.' Reporter Kay Burley later said the invitation was to lunch."

Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in March 2020.

But the Duke was forced to sit with the likes of Princess Alexandra, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth who hasn't worked as a royal in 10 years.

William kisses King Charles on the cheek (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Lip reader Jacquie Presser told the MailOnline Harry told Mr Brooksbank something was "lovely" after they arrived at the abbey.

She said the conversation seemed lighthearted.

She claimed the Prince smiled at Mr Brooksbank and said: "That’s funny, mmm interesting", before they discussed an upcoming event in the day, suggesting it might start at 3.45pm.

William and Kate were in the front row at the abbey, with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew leaving Westminster Abbey following the Coronation (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Their youngest child, Prince Louis, who recently turned five, took his seat after processing through the abbey, but left once the ceremony began.

A source told the Sun : "There were discussions that the seating could be arranged on line of succession. But that would have put fifth-in-line Harry front and centre — and with William and Kate.

"Instead the decision was working royals only at the front and work back from there. Harry will be a long way from his father."

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