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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

Prince Harry and Meghan's Coronation indecision causing 3 key 'headaches' for organisers

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still yet to decided whether they will attend the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla - and it's starting to cause serious issues.

There is only one month to go until the new King and Queen are crowd in front packed congregation inside Westminster Abbey, but it's still not known if the couple will be there.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be in talks with the Palace but some issues are still not resolved, such as how Archie's fourth birthday will be included in the celebrations as it also falls on May 6.

It is believed that the deadline for the invitation responses was on Monday, April 3 but Buckingham Palace staff are "none the wiser" whether the couple will make the trip across the pond.

Relations between the pair and the Royal Family are already at an all-time low - and now there are three key issues causing a 'headache' for coronation organisers.

Transportation

Harry and Meghan in a horse-drawn carriage after attending Trooping the Colour in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

A Palace aide said it was unlikely there would be such a strict cut-off date for family members as there would be other guests.

One source told The Mail: "Everything is still up in the air and there's only a month to go.

"All people have been told is that 'it should hopefully be resolved soon'. But in the meantime the teams are trying to finalise plans for 2,000 guests, many of whom are international heads of state and VIPs. It's a headache."

One key issue is how to transport around 2,000 guests in and out of Westminster Abbey - as you can't just have people walk in off the street.

For the late Queen's funeral, special delegations were organised so that world leaders travelled by bus to the Abbey.

Then-Prime Minister Liz Truss also urged visitors to avoid private transport to London, such as private planes, and recommended going on commercial flights.

For the Queen's funeral last year, Meghan was sat in a car alongside Prince Edward's wife Sophie, while Harry walked along with the coffin procession.

This time round, the Sussexes would be expected to arrive in a car together without any other royals.

Seating arrangements

Harry and Meghan could get a prime seat (PA)

Harry may not be a working royal, but as the son of the new king he would be entitled to a front row seat.

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.

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".

And some are hoping they will have to sit far away from the rest of the Royal Family so they don't have to socialise.

A source, described as friend of the family by the Mail, told the paper: "They will be given the cold shoulder by very many relatives. One said to me, 'I hope they'll be seated in Iceland.'

"Many of the family just want nothing more to do with them. If they have to see them at the Coronation then so be it, but they do not want to socialise with them."

Security planning

There will need to be a lot of security on the day (Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock)

There are major safety concerns for the Coronation guests - and for the Sussexes in particular.

Harry has repeatedly asked for armed police protection whenever he and his family return to Britain.

He launched legal action against the Home Office for its refusal to grant this, and in July 2022 the High Court ruled in favour of his bid to bring part of his claim against the Government.

It is believed the case may go before the High Court in early April, but it isn't known whether a ruling could be reached before the Coronation.

There have also been increased concerns over safety following Harry's decision to write about the number of Taliban he killed when fighting in Afghanistan.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the MailOnline: "Harry's concerns over security, which will not be helped by his revelations about the number of Taliban insurgents he personally killed, may also be a factor as he has a case pending against the Home Office on this issue."

Harry was reportedly told he would have to give 28 day's notice if he intended to return to the UK so his security requests could be assessed.

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

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

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