Royal Family
Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a dilemma following coronation invitation
Although the couple haven’t confirmed if they’ll attend the coronation, their hands may be forced.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been invited to King Charles’ coronation on May 6, though the couple have yet to confirm whether or not they will attend the event.
Harry and Meghan in a dilemma
A spokesperson for the couple confirmed the news to The Sunday Times, stating: “I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty’s office regarding the coronation.
“An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.”
While royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes an invitation to the coronation was always in the cards, he believes the couple are facing a dilemma following their uncertain response.
“It has always been clear that King Charles would invite Harry and Meghan to the Coronation,” he told the Daily Mail. “As a symbol of national unity, he believes this is important.
“However their response is uncertain and raises an acute dilemma for them. On the one hand, they want discussions with senior royals and accountability for what they believe they went through when they were senior working royals.
“They believe that, together with the press, the royal family sought to drive them into exile. They want an apology. They will not get it.
“The Sussexes have contracts with Netflix, Spotify and Random House. They only have these because they are members of the Royal Family. If they did not attend this momentous event they will seem very out of touch.”
Will the Sussexes stay away?
The Sussexes were recently asked to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage, a property that was given to them as a wedding gift by the late Queen.
The eviction notice was sent just days after Harry’s memoir, ‘Spare’, hit shelves, with a friend telling Omid Scobie that it felt like “cruel punishment”. However, Fitzsimmons believes they have no other choice but to attend the coronation or run the risk of appearing irrelevant.
“So the dilemma is theirs,” added Fitzwilliams. “They won’t be missed if they don’t come by much of the British public. However if they don’t they risk appearing an irrevelance and polls in America have shown a seismic drop in their support.
‘Since they have not decided on constructive careers and the endless interviews, the memoir and threats of more memoirs are recent proof of this, I suspect they dared not stay away. We shall see.’