King Charles’ Coronation could be plunged into disarray after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly placed certain demands on their appearance at the historic event on May 6.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been invited to attend the celebrations, but have yet to accept as they are waiting for certain requests to be met, according to a palace insider. The Mirror reports that they are said to be locked in tense negotiations with the Royal Family.
An insider has told OK! that the major sticking points include their children Archie, three, and one-year-old Lilibet, and how they are to be included, and also the inclusion of Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, on the Buckingham Palace balcony, which is normally reserved for working royals only… which the Sussexes are no longer.
A Palace insider revealed that their failure to officially accept their invitation until their demands were met could plunge the entire event into chaos. The source said: “The Palace are trying to wrap up negotiations as quickly as possible because they can’t go right up to the wire. It could lead to chaos.
“It could very well be that it ends in stalemate and they won’t attend. But the Palace is doing everything in its power to not let that happen.”
The source added that the inclusion of Archie and Lilibet at the official Coronation at Westminster Abbey had “never been a bone of contention”, because small children were not expected to attend such an event “due to restlessness and tantrums”. The source added: “However, what the Sussexes’ are pushing for is for them to be included with the rest of the family at the Palace later that day.
“It’s also Prince Archie’s birthday on Coronation day so they would like some kind of nod to that at a lunch or drinks reception. Even if it’s just a happy birthday mention.”
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The source added the Sussexes are asking Palace aides to include them on the balcony with the rest of the ‘Firm’ once the King has been crowned to wave to the crowds. The insider went on: “Once the King has been crowned, there will be a Coronation procession that will start at Westminster Abbey and end at Buckingham Palace.
“Once the procession reaches the Palace, the King will take to the balcony and wave at the crowds with the rest of the royal family members and their children. This is where Harry and Meghan have requested inclusion.”
The Duke and Duchess’ attendance at the Coronation has been in doubt as a result of the damaging allegations levelled at senior members of the Royal Family in the Sussexes’ controversial Netflix documentary and Harry’s bombshell book Spare.
Royal expert Tom Bower believed there was no way back for the couple following the “hostile and vitriolic” claims – adding it would be a mistake for them to attend the historic event.
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