The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, reportedly snubbed an invitation from his father, King Charles, to take part in the official royal portraits following the Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. As per The Telegraph, Prince Harry flew back to the United States immediately after the ceremony concluded to be with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Despite being aware of Prince Harry’s plans for a touch-and-go visit to the UK for the Coronation, it was always his intention to only attend the main ceremony and support his father. After that, he planned to depart to return home. As the same day also marked Prince Archie’s fourth birthday, it’s understandable that Prince Harry’s priority was to return to his family as quickly as possible.
Reports suggest that Prince Harry’s strained relationship with the royal family continues, particularly with his brother, Prince William. In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry accused Prince William of physically assaulting him. At the Coronation ceremony, Prince Harry was relegated to the third row in the Abbey, and he did not have any significant role in the ceremony. He was also not invited to participate in the Coronation Procession from the Abbey to the Buckingham Palace, or the Palace balcony appearance.
King Charles did invite Prince Harry to take part in the royal portraits, but the Duke of Sussex declined the invitation. The move is likely to further strain Prince Harry’s already fragile relationship with the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been residing in California for over a year now and have been focusing on their philanthropic endeavors, including mental health awareness and gender equality. They have also signed deals with major entertainment companies such as Netflix and Spotify to produce content.
