Prince Harry reportedly didn't hear from Charles directly about being invited to his father's Coronation next month. Instead the prince got the invite to the historical crowning at Westminster Abbey in an email from the King's office, according to a friend.
It comes after the news that the Duke of Sussex will be attending solo on May 6, whilst his wife Meghan will stay at home with their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Relations between the Sussex family and the rest of the royals are at an all-time low following the cutting comments made towards senior figures of the monarchy, with Harry's relationship with his family said to be currently "very tense".
Harry described his step-mother Queen Camilla as "dangerous" in his bombshell memoir Spare, and detailed an alleged physical confrontation with his brother William, reports the Mirror.
And now a close pal of the ex-working royal has said Harry, 38, didn't receive his Coronation invite the way he had hoped or expected to be given it. "They didn't hear from Charles. Harry wanted to hear from his father directly — it's always through somebody," the friend told People.
The pal added that Harry is going to the landmark event as a show of support to his estranged father and "not an institution." "This is about a son showing up for his father rather than the optics of the institution," they added to the magazine.
Another source told the publication the father and son eventually connected despite it not being in person which resulted in "positive conversations". They also said it was King Charles' "first wish" for Harry to join him at his Coronation.
Meanwhile, Meghan will be staying at home in the US with the couple's two children Archie and Lilibet, with her son celebrating his fourth birthday on the same day as the Coronation in a star-studded party in California.
Confirming Harry and Meghan's decision, the Palace said in a statement: "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."
Archewell, Harry and Meghan’s charitable foundation, issued a near identical statement. A spokesperson said: "The Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."
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