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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

Alarming Prince Harry Coronation deadline missed - and it could lead to serious issues

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still yet to announce whether they will attend the Coronation of King Charles III - despite an incredibly serious deadline at the weekend.

With less than a month to go before the historic event at Westminster Abbey - we are still no closer to knowing whether the couple are attending or not.

From transport to seating and the awkwardness of the momentous occasion falling on Prince Archie’s fourth birthday, there have been a lot of issues to resolve.

The cut-off point for RSVPs reportedly passed earlier in the week but still no decision from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been revealed, which is said to be causing a major headache for organisers.

But now they may have missed a much more serious deadline - as it's now less than 28 days before the Coronation on May 6.

Security is a top issue for Prince Harry (Getty Images)

Harry reportedly had to give a month’s notice before any trip back to the UK due to security reasons.

The Royal has been stuck in a long running dispute with the government over his security arrangements when back in the UK after he took legal action against the Home Office.

The Duke was told it would be up to the Home Office to decide what security was and wasn’t necessary after he stepped back from his duties as a working royal.

Whenever Harry has intended to return to the UK he has been told to give 28 days notice so his security requests could be assessed, a condition which was first reported by The Telegraph.

He was reportedly left furious with the government department and demanded to know of anyone else with the same threat assessment that he had who had received no security after leaving public duty.

Harry also slammed the arrangements for his family’s June 2021 visit for the memorial events for his mum Diana as "patchy, disjointed and inadequate".

Police security teams patrol Whitehall ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at Westminster Abbey (ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The Duke won a judicial review against the Home Office’s decision to deny his family automatic security in September 2021, but a date for the hearing has not yet been set.

Summarising his claim against the Home Office, Harry’s lawyers said that he is "gravely concerned about his safety and security during future trips to the UK" and that he feels he was left with no choice but to take legal action "given the gravity of what is at stake for him and his family".

They continued: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been subject to intense media scrutiny, hostile social media attention, and targeting by violent extremists due to (amongst other things) the [Duke’s] ten years of military service in the British Army, the Duchess of Sussex's race and their involvement in charitable and other social justice initiatives."

His lawyers said the 28-day period, during which a decision would be made whether to give him security or not, could threaten his safety and created uncertainty for the family.

A Home Office spokesperson said the department does not comment on the individual security of members of the Royal family.

Relations between the Sussexes and the Royal Family are at an all-time low, which makes it even harder to sort out a number of key issues, including where people will sit.

At the late Queen's funeral, Harry and Meghan sat directly behind Charles and Camilla, in the second row next to Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (Getty Images)

Disgraced Prince Andrew got a front row seat along with his siblings - and there is an understanding that Charles will follow 'protocol' again.

Even though Harry, Meghan and Andrew are no longer working royals, past precedent is expected to be followed.

If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do attend, the 'hierarchy' will be followed and Harry should get a more central seat because he is the King's son.

While they might be seating together, it's been reported that many members of the Firm are privately telling friends they will give the Harry and Meghan the "cold shoulder".

Detailed plans seen by The Mirror reveal how only working royals will be allowed on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony.

The King has chosen to say thanks for the nation alongside a select few royals who have dedicated their lives to public service, while also showing "the heartbeat and future of his family".

The final group of 15 shows there is no place for the Sussexes should they even decide to attend the coronation, although rumours of their demands to be included on the balcony are said to be "wide of the mark", according to palace insiders.

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