Prince Harry WILL attend King Charles' Coronation but not Meghan Markle

Prince Harry will attend the King's Coronation service in London next month - but Meghan Markle will remain in California with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the dramatic news in a statement today, saying it was 'pleased to confirm' the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

But the Duchess will stay home at the couple's residence in Montecito with one-year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday is on the same day as the event.

The couple's friend Omid Scobie said 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.

Harry and Meghan had controversially delayed their decision over whether they would fly in for the ceremony, despite the RSVP date of April 3 having passed.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019

The uncertainty over the Sussexes' attendance is thought to have left royal officials unable to sign off arrangements for seating plans, transport and security. 

READ MORE: Harry being stripped of his Duke of Sussex title 'has been discussed at the highest level'

 

Harry, who laid bare his troubled relationship with the royal family in his Netflix documentary and autobiography Spare, will be there to witness his father Charles and stepmother the Queen Consort be crowned next month. 

The news ends months of speculation about whether the couple would show up to the King's big day, but will likely see Meghan accused of snubbing the monarch and the royal family. 

Harry's attendance comes despite the rift within the Royal Family prompted by Harry's decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling book.

The revelations, including details of private conversations with his father - and his brother, Prince William - fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020.

The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a statement issued at 3pm today:  'Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.' 

Mr Scobie, who is a trusted contact of the Sussexes, tweeted the news and then added: 'I understand that Archie's fourth birthday (also on May 6) played a factor in the couple's decision. 

'Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.' 

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