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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

What Prince Harry will be allowed to do at Coronation amid awkward King Charles snub

Prince Harry is going to King Charles' Coronation today - but his experience will be very different to other members of his family.

Having famously stepped down from being a senior working royal along with wife Meghan Markle, who herself won't be attending, Harry has not been invited to take part in various aspects of the day.

While Harry's attendance is welcomed, it has thrown up the awkward issue of the Duke of Sussex confronting his older brother, Prince William.

With Harry's relationship with the rest of the royals at an all-time low, organisers are reportedly keen to make sure there aren't any public rows on the big day by keeping him separated.

The Duke of Sussex will have no specific role during the ceremony - and will reportedly be sat back in the third row to avoid any awkward confrontations or photos.

Prince Harry will watch father King Charles being crowned (Getty Images)

The Coronation is a designated 'Collar Day' - meaning the senior royals will be in all their finery.

Members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, may wear the regalia and collar that signifies the British orders of knighthood they belong to.

However, Harry has been banned from wearing ceremonial robes and ordered to wear a lounge suit, just like he was for the late Queen's funeral last year.

Royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop told the Mirror: "In our changed times with a father-King who wants both his sons by his side, expect to see Harry there but minus a coronet and robe."

Due to the tensions within the Royal Family, Harry's arrival at Westminster Abbey will be meticulously crafted down to the exact minute.

It's been reported that many members of the Firm are privately telling friends they will give the Harry and Meghan the "cold shoulder".

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."

King Charles has not given Harry a role at the Coronation (AFP via Getty Images)

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.

While there are roles for the Prince and Princess of Wales and young Prince George, Harry will just be watching the ceremony.

He also won't take part in any of the carriage processions to and from Westminster Abbey along with other non-working royals.

And perhaps more visually, he won't stand with the rest of his family on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony.

But Harry was determined to attend, with insiders saying Harry was cutely aware that the historic occasion will be "pretty much the most important day" of the King's life.

And he realised that he would have deep regrets if he did not turn up on the momentous day.

Harry will then make a swift exit, with insiders claiming Harry will be "in and out of the UK in 24 hours" and won't attend the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday night.

With the ceremony is expected to end at 1pm today, it's believed he will head to the airport straight after, possibly leaving the country at around 2pm or 3pm.

Earlier this month, a royal source told The Mirror : "After much back and forth, Harry said that he would be returning for the King's Coronation but it will only be a fleeting visit.

"Organisers have been told Harry won't be attending the concert with the rest of the Royal Family, which is a great shame as it will be such a spectacular event."

Harry is hoping to get back to California in time to celebrate Prince Archie's fourth birthday with an intimate party.

Among the celeb guests who may rock up are chat show legend Oprah Winfrey, tennis ace Serena Williams, presenter Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi.

"Harry's going to make every effort to get back in time for Archie's birthday," the insider told Page Six.

"It's going to be an intimate party, it's not going to be like 'My Super Sweet 16' or Portia de Rossi's 50th!"

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