Topline
Prince Harry did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the Royal Family Saturday, with some reports saying he wasn’t invited, and soon was spotted heading home after King Charles III’s coronation ceremony, his first appearance with his family since releasing his tell-all memoir Spare.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, had no formal role in his father’s coronation ceremony.
Key Facts
Members of the Royal Family traditionally appear on the balcony following a royal event, though it was speculated Harry would not be present and would return to the U.S. for his son’s birthday.
Harry was seen at London’s Heathrow Airport less than an hour after the coronation ceremony ended, according to The Sun.
The Duke of Sussex arrived alone at the coronation ceremony after his wife, Meghan Markle, decided to remain home with their children in California.
Harry sat in the third row during the ceremony—his brother, Prince William, sat in the front—alongside Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Prince Andrew, who also was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages last year following a sexual assault lawsuit.
Neither Harry nor Andrew—who also did not appear on the balcony—were given a formal role in the ceremony because they are not working members of the Royal Family, according to the BBC.
Harry did not appear on the balcony for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebration last year, after she decided to limit appearances for royals “currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the queen.”
Harry—who is expected to return to the U.S. after the ceremony—also did not follow along the royal procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
What To Watch For
Whether Prince Harry will appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Members of the Royal Family traditionally appear on the balcony following a royal event, though royal expert Tessa Dunlop predicted Harry “won’t be anywhere near” it.
Key Background
Charles’ coronation Saturday comes nearly nine months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A traditional religious ceremony, the coronation has been scaled back and involves fewer guests and a shorter procession to Westminster Abbey. The event is also the first of the social media age, as the Royal Family Twitter account has posted updates of the event all day—including the introduction of an emoji of St. Edward’s Crown. Harry’s involvement with the event was speculated on for several months before his appearance was confirmed, including leaks prior to the release of Spare that suggested he would not attend. The memoir has created a rift between Harry and his family, as the book included details about his difficult relationship with William and Charles. The book also detailed how he pleaded with his father to not marry Queen Camilla after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Further Reading
‘Spare’ Leaks Continue: Prince Harry May Not Attend King Charles’ Coronation (Forbes)
King Charles III’s Coronation: Queen Camilla Crowned At Westminster Abbey Ceremony (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/05/06/prince-harry-shunned-from-buckingham-palace-balcony-and-soon-bolts-for-airport/