The sudden appearance of Prince Harry in the UK last week has led many to believe he will attend the coronation of King Charles III on May 6. The Duke of Sussex attended the High Court in London to show support for his privacy case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), even though his presence was not required.
During the four-day preliminary hearing, the 38-year-old listened carefully to the legal proceedings, which will decide whether the case proceeds to trial. Despite his public concerns about returning to the UK due to a lack of police protection, he was seen arriving at the court with his security detail.
His unexpected London visit has fueled speculation that he will attend King Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey. Sky Bet, a British bookmaker, has given 1/5 odds that he will attend and 10/3 that he won't. According to these odds, 83.3% of people believe he will be present at the ceremony, while 23.1% believe he will not.
These figures represent a significant shift from a March survey by the same bookmaker, which showed 26.7% saying he would not attend and 80% saying he would.
While the public continues to speculate about their attendance at the ceremony, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not yet accepted the invitation. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed that the duke received an email invitation, but they have not yet confirmed their attendance.
During a promotional interview for his memoir "Spare" in January, Prince Harry expressed doubt that he would be invited to the coronation. He told ITV's Tom Bradby that "there is a lot that can happen between now and then" and stated that the "ball is in their court."
Despite his criticism of the royal family and the institution in his book and various interviews, his father still extended an invitation to him and his wife. However, reports suggest that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have not been invited.
Royal experts argue that the Sussexes have a legitimate reason not to attend the coronation. May 6 is also their son's fourth birthday, so they might prefer to stay in California and celebrate his milestone rather than face the disapproval of the British public.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, told Newsweek, "There is no public enthusiasm for the Sussexes in Britain where their popularity has been low for many months as shown in the polls. There will be no enthusiasm if they attend." He added that if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were to attend King Charles III's coronation, they would likely "appear isolated." However, Fitzwilliams believes the couple "dare not miss" the event, as it will be "an occasion of global significance."
Fitzwilliams also claimed that the Sussexes "have always been obsessed with controlling the public relations agenda" and cited the duke's surprise court appearance as an example. He thinks the public "will get more surprises" and noted that Prince Harry's case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror begins on May 9, immediately following the coronation weekend celebrations.
Buckingham Palace has not yet released the official guest list for King Charles III's coronation. Approximately 2,000 guests are expected, a reduction from the roughly 8,000 guests at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2, 1953. Although some have called for the King not to invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, royal experts believe he would want them present for the momentous occasion, which he hopes to share with all members of the royal family.
