Prince Harry’s status within the royal family was made painfully clear during Saturday’s coronation of his father King Charles.
As his older brother William, the future king, sat in the front row of the service at Westminster Abbey, played a key role in the ceremony and followed his father back to Buckingham Palace in the royal procession – Harry cut a lonely figure throughout.
The Duke of Sussex sat in the third row and did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the pinnacle of the celebration.
It had been unclear until early April whether Harry, who now lives in United States, would attend the historic occasion following a very public falling out with his family.
The 38-year-old army veteran who served in Afghanistan arrived in the abbey smiling and dressed in a morning suit, wearing his medals on his chest.
His wife Meghan and two young children remained in California.
He played no formal role in the service and watched on while his elder brother William knelt before his father to pledge his loyalty as his “liegeman of life and limb,” a moment that was greeted by cheers from crowds outside.
He was later absent from the palace balcony as Charles and Camilla joined William and his family, two of Charles’ siblings and the page boys from the service to wave to the crowds.
Instead of joining the festivities in front of throngs of well wishers, Harry boarded a flight back to the US.
Charles’ disgraced brother Andrew who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was also not present on the balcony.
Harry was once one of the most popular members of the royal family and his wedding to Meghan, a US actress, at Windsor Castle in May 2018 was a grand affair which drew enthusiastic crowds.
But his decision to quit royal duties and the rift with his family has divided public opinion.
Lisa Penny, 53, a supermarket worker from Dorset, said it still felt a “bit raw” after everything that had been said.
“I think he’s done a fair amount of damage and I think they need a bit of time to get over that.”
She added though: “I’m pleased he is here for his father.”
Others said they were happy to see him there, noting that no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors with families.
Jacqueline Brown, 28, a museum caretaker who had come from Missouri in the US to witness the events, was one who was pleased to see him there.
“He’s the King’s son, he should be here to support him. It’s nice he’s doing that despite everything,” she said.
In his book Spare, published in January, Harry criticised his father, his stepmother Queen Camilla and his brother Prince William, and accused the institution of treating he and his wife without compassion.
-with AAP
