Harry and Meghan ‘can’t expect coronation roles when they haven’t replied to their invitation’
The Sussexes should not expect to play significant roles in King Charles’s coronation when they cannot even decide if they are going, royal experts warned today.
It comes as final plans for the historic ceremony, to be held at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, are beginning to be made public.
Palace officials shared images of the official invitations last night, revealing Camilla will officially become Queen, dropping the ‘Consort’ from her title, while Prince George has been named as one of the Pages of Honour.
The historic ceremonial position is employed only on state occasions and will see eight boys – four for each monarch – carry the King and Queen’s robes into the Abbey.
While Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie, aged three, and one-year-old Lilibet are too young for such a role, they have reportedly not even been invited.
The Sussexes should not expect to play a significant role in the coronation of King Charles when they cannot even decide if they are going, royal experts warned today
Palace officials shared images of the official invitations last night, revealing Camilla will officially become Queen, dropping the ‘Consort’ from her title, while Prince George has been named as one of the Pages of Honour
But royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline today that Harry and Meghan would hardly be able to complain about their children not being involved in the coronation ‘when they can’t even make up their minds if they want to come.’
He said: ‘I’m sure if they had made an early decision to attend and accept the King’s invitation with good grace it would have been seen as the first step in rebuilding their relationship, and Archie and Lilibet would have been welcomed with open arms.’
He added: ‘They are too young to be involved in the actual ceremony but of course the King would love to see his grandchildren if they came over and it must be heartbreaking for him that he never sees them.’
Prince William will be the only royal liege man at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to ‘pay homage’ to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s right cheek.
The action is usually performed by all the royal dukes, but Charles scrapped the traditional obligation, effectively absolving Prince Harry of any ceremonial duties.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam said the Sussexes will now ‘almost certainly have no role’ in the coronation.
He told MailOnline: ‘They want the royal family to own that they treated them badly when they were senior working royals and apologise. This won’t happen.
‘Lili is not yet two and is almost certainly too young to have attended but the ceremony falls on Archie’s fourth birthday. He might have attended, though he is obviously too young for a role. They have reportedly not been invited.’
He added: ‘Harry and Meghan will almost certainly attend as they would be isolated if they did not.
‘When they do attend, as I fully expect they will, they will almost certainly have no role to perform in the ceremony…
Prince William will be the only royal liege at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to ‘pay homage’ to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s right cheek.
Prince George is the most notable – and youngest – page of honour chosen by the King and Queen Consort
The Queen Consort’s pages of honour all come from Her Majesty’s family. They include her grandsons Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12. Pictured: Freddy stands in the foreground with twins Gus and Louis behind
‘The royal family knows how to deal with them and is only too aware of the harm they have willfully done the royal family for monetary gain. The talk with other royals will be of the weather.
‘They will not, with reason, be trusted. They have only themselves to blame for that and for their declining ratings.’
Along with Prince George, the King’s pages also include Nicholas Barclay, 13, the grandson of Sarah Troughton, who is one of the Queen’s companions and oldest friends.
He will be joined by Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, son of David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, and his former model wife, Rose. Oliver’s father was recently appointed to be the King’s Lord-in-Waiting – a significant royal role.
The boys chosen to carry the couple’s robes into Westminster Abbey demonstrate Charles and Camilla’s decision to put family and friends at the heart of this historic occasion
The fourth page is Ralph Tollemache, 12, son of British banker and aristocrat The Honourable Edward Tollemache – a godson of the King and a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen Consort’s Pages of Honour all come from Her Majesty’s family. They include her grandsons and identical twins Gus and Louis Lopes, aged 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, also 13.
Her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, ten – whose father is former Tory Party chairman Ben Elliot – will be her fourth page.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales were touched that the King wanted his grandson to play such a significant role, they wanted to ensure that the nine-year-old felt up to the public scrutiny.
After discussions with their eldest son and future monarch, they felt happy he would rise to the occasion.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said last night: ‘We’re all very excited about Prince George’s role in the Coronation, it will be an incredibly special moment.’
