HARRY and Meghan are “expected” to attend King Charles’ coronation, it is reported.
Sources told the Daily Mail Buckingham Palace staff are including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the seating plans for the event.
6
But insiders say the California-based duo have not formally accepted the King’s email invitation for the May 6 crowning.
A source told the paper: “Harry and Meghan are being factored into all of the planning… The staff are certainly working on the expectation they are coming.”
But five key questions remain over the Sussexes’ coronation plans.
When will they arrive?
6
It is unclear when Harry and Meghan will arrive for the coronation.
But events for the coronation will start on Saturday May 6.
They will continue over Sunday May 7 and Monday May 8, which has been declared a bank holiday to mark the coronation.
If the pair do decide to attend the coronation, their travel itinerary and plans will be tightly dictated by their personal security detail and accommodation.
Will they definitely come?
6
A spokesman for the Sussexes said last week the pair had received an email invitation from the palace.
But they added an “immediate decision” on their attendance will “not be disclosed by us at this time”.
The pair may be tied to the US as baby Archie’s birthday falls on May 6 – the day of his grandad’s coronation.
Royal commentator Ingrid Seward previously told The Sun she fully expected Harry to attend, despite the recent furore over explosive Spare and TV revelations.
She said: “I’m sure Harry will be there.
“How can he not come to his dad’s coronation after writing a whole book about forgiveness? I am not so sure about Meghan.”
Where will they stay?
6
The Sun revealed last week how Harry and Meghan had been sensationally evicted from Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate.
Prince Andrew is tipped to move in after being given his marching orders to get out of leaky Royal Lodge.
It means the California-based duo are without a place to call home in the UK and will have to find other lodgings for the coronation weekend.
What events will they attend?
6
The Daily Mail report that it is “likely” there will be negotiations around what events the couple will attend.
At the Platinum Jubilee last year the Sussexes were visible for some but not all of the festivities, such as appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
It has already been suggested that family members appearing on the balcony will be limited to working royals as part of the King’s “slimmed down” new-look monarchy.
But as the Sussexes are yet to even accept the invite, it is not clear what events the pair will attend.
The action packed weekend will see the King and Queen Consort will arrive at Westminster Abbey in The King’s Procession on Saturday morning.
This will be followed by the coronation service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry”.
After the service, the newly-crowned King and Queen Consort will return to the Palace in a larger ceremonial parade known as the Coronation Procession.
This is expected to include thousands of troops, military bands and other members of the Royal Family.
After the procession the Royal Family are expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Who will they sit next to?
6
Negotiations will “go to the wire”, not just over the events the duo will attend, but also who they will sit next to, what they wear and the security detail required for them.
This is all yet to be hammered out and discussions will be triggered as soon as the Sussexes put ink to paper confirming their attendance.
At Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, Harry and Meghan sat behind King Charles and Camilla.
And at the Jubilee last year, Meghan and Harry sat on the opposite side of St Pauls to Princess Kate and Prince William.