A royal insider has said that Prince Harry will attend King Charles' Coronation in May. However, he says Meghan Markle isn't "brave or strong enough to be there".
Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler, maintains the King has "retained the moral high ground" by inviting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Now, he says, "the ball is well and truly in Harry and Meghan's court".
The couple have not officially given their decision about attending the ceremony on May 6, but Mr Burrell said it would be "incredibly uncomfortable" for them to reunite with the royal family if they decided to go.
Read more: Camilla's special plan for grandchildren at Coronation after Archie and Lilibet 'snub'
"Are they prepared to face the music?," he said. "I don't think Meghan's brave or strong enough to be there – she'd have to look in the eyes of a family she's pushed under the bus.
"But I think Harry may come alone and she's probably told him she won't be able to be by his side with him if he does attend.". He also said it will be difficult for Harry to see Queen Consort Camilla at the Coronation as she will be "where his mother could have been".
The Duke of Sussex also referred to Camilla as "the other woman" in various parts of his explosive book, as well as saying he feared her being a "wicked stepmother". Speaking to Closer magazine, Paul said Harry "blamed Camilla for things she didn't do" and said it will be "painful" for him to be at King Charles' coronation.
Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the King and the Prince of Wales has remained troubled in the wake of the publication of the duke’s controversial tell-all memoir Spare. The King’s second son criticised Charles’s parenting, accused William of physically attacking him and branded Camilla “dangerous”.
In the three years since the pair stepped down as working royals, the couple have been critical of the royal family and the monarchy, telling their story in their Netflix documentary and in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey. It emerged recently that Harry and Meghan have been asked to vacate their UK home Frogmore Cottage, in a move sanctioned by the King.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed: "I can confirm the duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty’s office regarding the Coronation." But they added: "An immediate decision on whether the duke and duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time."
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