While millions of Brits will be likely to tune into King Charles' Coronation on May 6, there will be another big celebration going on across the Pond. The eyes of the world will be on Charles and Queen Camilla as they are officially crowned during the historic event inside Westminster Abbey but some of the guests may wish they were attending another special occasion instead.
Meghan Markle has chosen not to attend the Coronation and will remain at home in California with her two kids, Archie whose fourth birthday falls on the same day as the event and his sister, Lilibet, the Mirror reports. Young Prince Archie is set to have a very 'intimate' birthday party while his grandfather will celebrate one of the most important days of his life at the Coronation ceremony.
Harry will be flying out to the UK alone to face his family for the first time since the release of his memoir, Spare, but is said to be flying straight back to the US after the ceremony to spend the weekend celebrating with his son.
With Archie's birthday being the second hottest event in town on May 6, here's a look at the suspected celebrity guest list...
Doria Ragland
The first name on the guest list has got to be granny Doria, Meghan's mother. Doria is said to be a very hands-on grandma to Archie, three and Lilibet, one and was an invaluable help to the Sussexes when they first became parents.
The devoted grandmother left her home in California in April 2019 and flew out to London to support her heavily pregnant daughter for a month. Doria lives in California so is not too far away from Harry and Meghan and the couple reportedly have a guest quarters she can use to stay over.
She was present at Archie's first birthday and will likely to be keen to celebrate with her beloved grandson again.
Serena Williams
Tennis pro Serena Williams is a long-term pal of Meghan's and also grown closer to Harry in recent years. Meghan has frequently been spotted cheering from the sidelines at her friend's big tennis match competitions.
Serena helped plan Meghan's baby shower and it was actually the Sussexes who helped convince the Grand Slam champion to retire from the sport in September 2022.
Serena also appeared in the couple's Netflix documentary where she spoke about being a guest at their wedding in 2018. Serena said: "To have her culture represented at that wedding.
"Amazing, I loved it. I thought it was really courageous breaking boundaries but not trying to."
It's also believed that Serena's daughter Olympia is a playmate of Archie and Lili so it's likely the families will get together for a fun celebration on May 6.
Orlando Bloom
Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom has struck up a close friendship with Prince Harry since the Sussexes moved in round the corner from him in 2020.
The pair became neighbours in Montecito, California and seem to have hit it off together after Orlando said Harry is 'so nice' and has a 'great sense of humour'.
However, Orlando could run into quite the predicament if his fiancée Katy Perry is performing at the Coronation concert on May 7. The Lord of the Rings actor would need to decide whether he attends Archie's party if he receives an invite or watch his partner sing at Windsor Castle.
Or he could do what Harry plans to do in reverse - make a quick dash to the UK from California after the birthday bash.
George and Amal Clooney
George and Amal Clooney were invited to the Sussexes' wedding in 2018 but it's claimed they didn't actually know the newlyweds very well at the time. However, it seems a friendship started to blossom in the following months as Harry and Meghan enjoyed a weekend at the Clooney's house in Lake Como in August that year.
A source told US weekly: "The Clooneys had personally invited Meghan and Harry to their home at the beginning of the summer with an open invitation. George and Amal were so happy to host Meghan and Harry. Harry and George have a special bond and friendship."
It's reported that Amal and Meghan share many similar interests with the barrister previously helping the Suits actress settle into life in London. Speaking about his friendship with the Sussexes, Cloney told the MailOnline in 2019 that the two couples had enjoyed dinner parties together.
He said: "We live not too far from one another and we have dinners and stuff and we’re friends with them for all the reasons that you're friends with anybody. They’re just really nice, fun, kind people. They're a very loving couple, and they're going to be great parents."
Amal also helped organise Meghan's baby shower in New York in 2019.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Chat show host Ellen DeGeneres and her actress wife Portia de Rossi have become very close with Meghan and Harry over the years. Although Ellen awkwardly cannot recall that the first time she met the former Suits actress was actually in a pet shelter in LA.
According to Meghan, Ellen was responsible for pushing her to adopt her dog Bogart, a Labrador-shepherd mix. Shortly after Archie's birth, Ellen and Portia de Rossi went over to London to visit the couple and their newborn baby.
Ellen revealed she had held and fed little Archie and talked to the couple about wildlife conservation. She also saw the kids at Halloween in 2021 where Archie dressed up as a dinosaur and Lilibet transformed into a skunk.
It would make sense if the famous couple were invited to the birthday celebrations given the close relationship the pair have with the Sussexes and their kids.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a known friend of the Sussexes after she secured that controversial interview in 2021 where the couple opened up their time as royals. The American talk show legend was also a neighbour of theirs in California and attended their wedding in 2018.
Oprah has repeatedly come to the couple's defence over the years amidst their ongoing feuds with other royal family members. In their Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan revealed that Oprah was one of the only visitors they had during their time at the 'tiny' Frogmore Cottage.
Harry explained that Oprah had came over for tea and was shocked to see where they were living, telling them: "No one would ever believe it." Last month, presenter Gayle King, who is also a good friend of the Sussexes asked the chat show host whether or not she believes that they should be attending the Coronation.
Gayle asked: "Do you think they should go, do you think they should not go? Is it something you'd like to comment on? I'm listening." Speaking on CBS Morning, Oprah replied: "I think they should do what they feel is best for them and for their family. That's what I think.
"That's what the bottom line comes down to. What do you feel like is the right thing for you?" Oprah added: "They haven't asked me my opinion. No they have not."
With Meghan staying at home during the celebrations, her good friend Oprah popping round for the occasion could be on the cards.
Jessica Mulroney
Jessica Mulrney was once Meghan Markle's best friend and would have undoubtedly been invited to any party she was hosting in the past. Meghan became pals with the Canadian fashion stylist while they were shooting in Toronto and the two women were inseparable at one point.
All three of Jessica's kids played important roles on Meghan and Harry's wedding day and she accompanied her bestie on a royal tour in an unofficial capacity.
However, their friendship began to go downhill after Jessica was involved in a race row and dragged Meghan down with her into the controversy. Jessica was subsequently fired from TV gigs, lost her reality show and seemingly her friendship with Meghan but she recently broke her silence.
If Jessica and Meghan have patched up their friendship then she could possibly be joining in on Archie's party too.
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