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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Katie Weston

Wife of late Queen's godson makes subtle dig at King Charles after Coronation snub

The late Queen's godson will be watching King Charles' Coronation from his TV at home, it is reported.

George Herbert, the Earl of Carnarvon, will not be inside Westminster Abbey to watch the monarch being crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort, on Saturday.

Instead, the peer and his wife will likely watch the service from their estate at Highclere Castle, where the TV drama Downton Abbey is filmed.

The new monarch has scaled down plans for the big day by shortening the procession and ceremony, alongside cutting the guest list to 2,200 people.

At the Coronation of Elizabeth II just over 70 years ago, 8,000 people were there to see her crowned.

George Herbert, Earl of Carnarvon and Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon, pictured in 2013 (Getty Images)
King Charles attending an event at Buckingham Palace last month (PA)

The Earl's wife, Countess Fiona, told the Daily Mail: "We will be watching [the service].

"We are not there - new King, new way of doings things."

She added that such changes are "the right thing to do".

It comes after Sarah Ferguson, the King's former sister-in-law, confirmed that she had also not received an invitation.

When asked if she'll be attending, the Duchess of York told Good Morning Britain: "No I'm not because it's a state occasion and being divorced you can't have it both ways.

The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle near Newbury (PA)

"I'm enjoying being divorced to my husband not from my husband."

She added: "The great thing about this moment in time is the unity of family. I think they're doing a great job of unifying the family.

"I'm not there in the state occasion but that doesn't mean I'm not there privately. You can't sit on the fence, you're either in or out."

Some non-royal dukes have also not been invited to the Coronation, including the Duke of Rutland and the Duke of Somerset, it was reported.

David Manners, the current Duke of Rutland, apparently "does not really understand" why he hadn't been invited.

He said: "It has been families like mine that have supported the Royal Family over 1,000 years or thereabouts."

Meanwhile, supporting Charles and Queen Camilla will be all of the working royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George - who will be a page of honour - Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Prince Edward and Sophie - the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of York and Princess Alexandra, will also be in attendance.

Wider family members expected to be there will include the likes of Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Zara and Mike Tindall - but they won't appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the ceremony.

Prince Harry will also be at the Coronation but his wife Meghan will stay behind in California with their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

King Charles will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign monarchs have also been invited to the Coronation.

Among them will be King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who will be accompanied by his daughter Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Some politicians and peers are also expected to receive invitations.

But with space in the Abbey at a premium, not all will be able to attend - it was reported that just 20 MPs and 20 peers are expected to be invited along with members of the Cabinet.

There will be current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former living PMs - Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.

Politicians from devolved parliaments and assemblies are also expected there, including new Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales.

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