LONDON — Princes Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles III today but will have no formal role in proceedings — confirming he remains out in the cold.
Charles’s younger son Harry and his American wife Meghan quit royal duties in 2020 and have since unleashed a string of barbed attacks on the monarchy.
Harry, 38, the Duke of Sussex, will attend the coronation service at London’s Westminster Abbey but will not perform any duties.
He will also be absent from the public procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned king from the abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
But he may yet appear on the palace balcony.
Harry is fifth in line to the throne, following his brother Prince William, and William’s three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales.
After finally deciding to attend, Harry’s every move will be heavily scrutinised. He rejoins his family for the first time since subjecting them to a torrent of stinging criticism in his memoir “Spare” and in a series of television interviews.
Meghan has remained in California with the children, thereby avoiding potentially awkward interactions with her in-laws.
At the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal dukes each paid personal homage and allegiance to the monarch, in a public vow of loyalty.
They pledged to “become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God.”
But this time, only William, the heir to the throne, will speak “the words of fealty” and pay “the homage of royal blood”, as the coronation liturgy calls it — sparing Harry from having to kneel before his father.
Buckingham Palace has not said whether Harry will or will not appear on the palace balcony following the ceremony.
At Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last June for her 70 years on the throne, the balcony appearance was restricted to working royals only.
But her coronation in 1953 featured multiple balcony appearances, so Harry might potentially appear among a wider royal family gathering.
Today marks Archie’s fourth birthday, so Harry might make a swift exit back to his home in California.
