EXCLUSIVE: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry may not need to hurry to let officials know whether they will attend the Coronation of King Charles, as the royal box allows “some flexibility”, an expert said.
King Charles III coronation details revealed by Palace
“Given that we don’t really know that all the formal invitations have gone out yet, I think they’ve still got plenty of time.”
The royal box, where members of the Royal Family will sit during the service as it happened in past coronations, allows “some flexibility” as it will likely always have some space available for relatives of the King.
Dr Gross said: “Given that they’ve got the royal box, in a sense, there’s flexibility on this one.
Meghan and Prince Harry live in California (Image: GETTY)
Meghan and Prince Harry have been invited to the Coronation (Image: GETTY)
“The other reason that there’s always a little bit of flexibility is people never know for sure if they will attend with things like health and so on.
“They’re always last minute [cancellations], it’s the same as planning any great event or even, if we take it back to the ordinary person, if you try planning a party and somebody changes their mind last minute, there’s always some flexibility, and there are always cancellations, and they’re always last minute attendees.
“So there’s always a little bit of room. Because of the royal box, I think you’ve got more flexibility.”
A spokesperson for Meghan and Harry confirmed in late February the pair had received an invite via email to the Coronation.
Meghan and Prince Harry are no longer working royals (Image: GETTY)
Meghan and Prince Harry will likely seat in the royal box if they attend the Coronation (Image: GETTY)
The Coronation will fall on the same day Prince Archie Harrison, Meghan and Harry’s son, turns four.
It was previously claimed Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Diana, who is turning two in June, have not even been included by officials in “any discussions about who will be in attendance”, leading to think the King had not invited his youngest grandchildren.
However, a royal source claimed on Sunday that officials would start discussing ways to include the two children in the historic event if their parents confirmed they were coming to the Coronation.
Meghan and Prince Harry have two children – Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie (Image: GETTY)
He said: “There is that Clementine Churchill precedent, so there are ways that you could be at the service and then not be there for the whole thing, you could see the core parts.
“One of the big problems for all of those participating is that guests assembled are there for many hours in advance. And so it takes a very long time of sitting.
“So it would not be surprising if they participated for some [parts of the service]. But they are very young. And it may just be seen as just too young.”
Dr Gross added there isn’t a historical precedent stating Prince Archie and Princess Lili can’t be there or have to be there as the grandchildren of the sovereign.
Source: EXPRESS CO UK
