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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Kyle O'Sullivan Assistant Features Editor & Jacob Farr

Prince Harry rushes to airport - snubbing family lunch to return for son's birthday

Prince Harry was spotted rushing off in a car right after the Coronation had finished in order to get home to his family.

The Duke of Sussex attended the Westminster Abbey event by himself after his wife Meghan Markle stayed at home in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Harry could be seen chatting to Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank and Princess Alexander - the late Queen’s cousin.

READ MORE: King Charles III officially crowned alongside Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey

A lip reader believes that they spotted what time Harry had said he would be heading off at as they claim he said “about quarter to four.”

The Prince was said to be desperate to return in time for his son’s birthday party and that he was headed for a commercial flight back to the States following the Coronation, the Mirror reports.

This means he won't attend a family lunch at Buckingham Palace, despite allegedly being invited.

Relations between the Duke of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family are at an all-time low, but it's believed he was offered the surprise olive branch.

Luckily, Harry will be at another huge event - Archie's fourth birthday party.

A source close to the family has said Meghan's mother Doria Ragland will be at the bash, along with Archie's pre-school friends and some celebrity pals of the couple.

Celeb guests who may rock up are chat show legend Oprah Winfrey, tennis ace Serena Williams, presenter Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi.

"Harry's going to make every effort to get back in time for Archie's birthday," the insider told Page Six.

"It's going to be an intimate party, it's not going to be like 'My Super Sweet 16' or Portia de Rossi's 50th!"

Prince Harry arrived at the ceremony along with his cousins. (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror.)

There will be lots of fun to be had for the kids as the Sussex's grounds extend to a whopping seven acres - and has a playground complete with two slides, climbing frame, tightrope, helter skelter, and two types of climbing wall.

Meghan loves baking at home with Archie, so will no doubt be planning a big cake for her son to enjoy, perhaps even using lemons plucked from their own garden.

There were rumoured fears that the Sussexes could "upstage" Charles' historic day by going large on the celebrations.

Royal columnist Lee Cohen claimed Harry and Meghan could risk overshadowing his dad's big moment, including the release of a birthday announcement hours before the Coronation.

It is traditional for royal households to release photo portraits on a family member's birthday - with the Sussexes doing this on every previous occasion for their son.

Cohen told Express.co.uk : "It's terribly petty, but the Sussexes, who no longer have their royal platform, seem to relish any opportunity to attempt to upstage a royal occasion.

"It's not as if the Royal Family seek occasions to upstage the antics of the Sussexes, quite the opposite."

But they are yet to make any announcement about their son - and none of the other royals have sent birthday wishes.

Harry was banned from wearing ceremonial robes and had a suit on for the Coronation ceremony - and he didn't part in either of the processions to and from Westminster Abbey.

While he may have been invited to the Buckingham Palace lunch, he did not stand with the other senior royals on the famous balcony ahead of the flypast.

The announcement that Harry would be attending the Coronation without Meghan ended months of speculation.

In a statement, the Palace: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May.

"The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."

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