Meghan Markle ‘never likely’ to attend King Charles’ Coronation with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle was ‘never likely’ to attend Charles’s Coronation, sources close to those planning the event have said, after she was put in an ‘impossible situation’ by the Royal Family.

Prince Harry is understood to have gone through weeks of negotiations with Buckingham Palace, including going over security arrangements and concerns over the reception from his family. 

The Palace announced Harry would attend in a statement yesterday, saying it was ‘pleased to confirm’ the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6. 

Meghan will stay at home in Montecito, California, with one-year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday is on the same day as the ceremony.

The news follows months of tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals following the release of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare.

Royal insiders today claimed Meghan was put in an ‘impossible situation’ by the royal family

While Harry jets over to the UK, Meghan will stay in the US with their children Lilibet, one, and Archie, who turns four on the day of the coronation

A royal source told the Mirror: ‘The truth of the matter is the duchess was never likely to attend the Coronation.

‘The mood from California was that she felt increasingly put in an impossible position and there’s a fair sense of relief that the situation is resolved after so much speculation and uncertainty.

‘It is one thing to attend the late Queen’s funeral out of respect for Her Majesty but another thing entirely to attend the start of a new reign.’

A second source added the duchess was ‘damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t’ but added she had decided to do ‘the right thing for her young children which should be applauded’. 

Earlier on Thursday it was revealed that the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has not been invited to the Coronation – news that came as a shock to some royal fans.

Her ex-husband the disgraced Prince Andrew, as well as their daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will all attend. 

Sarah did attend the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.

She was not invited to Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead – but did attend Harry and Meghan’s marriage at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in May 2018.

Her lack of a coronation invitation comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, although her ex-husband is still excluded from most of life within the Royal Family.

Sarah herself has also had something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham at Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen’s corgis.

She was also a favourite of the late Queen and they were known to spend plenty of time together including walks at Windsor Park.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on June 3 last year

The King is planning a slimmed-down affair from previous ceremonies, and will have just 2,000 guests in attendance. 

Meanwhile the couple’s friend Omid Scobie confirmed Archie’s birthday ‘played a factor in the couple’s decision’ and he expected it would be a ‘fairly quick trip to the UK’ for Harry. 

The Duke will only attend the ceremony, which is likely to last a few hours.

Reacting to the announcement from the Palace, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: ‘King Charles will undoubtedly be pleased that both his sons will be represented at his Coronation. It is, after all, quite literally the crowning moment of his life.

‘He had the longest period as Prince of Wales in our history and he used it wonderfully well for the benefit of others. Camilla is wonderfully supportive and also is doing important charitable work.

‘Meghan will be with Archie on his fourth birthday. This is probably an ideal compromise. 

‘For months I hoped for reconciliation but after Spare, the interviews promoting it and the Netflix docuseries it is obvious that this is highly unlikely to happen and that the Sussexes’ rift with the Royal Family is very serious.

‘The Sussexes are unpredictable. Their endless attacks on the Royal Family have been extremely damaging.

‘They have affected its popularity especially among the young. This has become something of a circus. They should find constructive roles in which to employ such talents as they have.

‘Harry is unlikely to have a role in the ceremony or appear on the balcony. He may well appear in the procession after the ceremony. 

‘However, it would have been impossible for the Sussexes to not be represented at this unique event and expect to be taken seriously as members of the Royal Family in the future.’

More than 2,000 people will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the nation’s first event of its kind in 70 years, with the guest list now starting to take shape.

Most of the Royal Family will attend the ceremony, led by senior members Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward with their spouses and children.

Foreign dignitaries are set to include First Lady Jill Biden – but not her husband Joe – and leaders from the likes of France, Spain, Belgium, Japan and Monaco.

It is not yet confirmed whether Andrew will be present and even if he is, he will not have any special ceremonial roles.

Royal sources have already dismissed the idea that he could play a significant part in the proceedings.

Andrew also will not be invited to stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the family during the celebrations.

But the report in The Independent on about Fergie’s absence will likely surprise some royal watchers – with Meghan Markle ‘s friend Omid Scobie tweeting: ‘If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but Cabinet ministers will be denied a ‘plus one’.

Organisers say space is very limited and the guest list will be similar to the Queen’s state funeral where very few politicians could take their partners.