Prince Harry and Meghan Markle knew when it came to King Charles III‘s coronation ceremony, they were doomed if they did and doomed if they did not.
According to Page Six, the California-based couple made a good decision for themselves and their family. Prince Harry will attend the crowning and almost immediately fly back to Montecito to be present for his son, Archie.
Archie is celebrating his fourth birthday on May 6. It is believed that King Charles picked his grandson’s birthday as a way to force Markle to stay home with her children.
And she did just that. The former actress will remain in her Montecito mansion, where she is planning a low-key birthday party for her son.
There has been a lot of ink spilled for Markle and Prince Harry’s decision to prioritize their oldest child instead of focusing on the extravagant coronation.
In a BBC documentary to mark King Charles’s birthday, Camilla, Queen Consort, revealed that he is excellent in the role of grandfather to her five grandchildren.
The Queen painted King Charles as dedicated and loving. She said: “My grandchildren adore him, absolutely adore him. He’s a brilliant mimic. He reads Harry Potter, and he can do all the different voices, and I think children really appreciate that.”
On the same show, Prince William sort of called out his father for not spending enough time with his grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The heir to the throne confessed: “I would like him to have more time with the children… to play around. When he’s there, he’s brilliant, but we need him there as much as possible.”
The Daily Beast noted the following about Prince William’s blunt and somewhat heartbreaking words: “His remarks were undeniably warm but did more than hint at the irritation many around Charles have long felt at his tendency to prioritize work and duty over family.”
Nonetheless, Markle is being slammed by the royals for snubbing the event. Writer Christopher Andersen explained: “I’m sure the Palace is blaming Meghan for the decision to remain in Montecito with the kids. But by the same token, without his wife’s express approval, Harry would never be making a solo appearance. It’s definitely a glass half-empty or glass half-full situation.”
He went on to say that King Charles, who declined to invite Archie and Lilibet to the crowning, would embrace and welcome them into the Royal Family at a later date.
The author shared: “Charles has to be very relieved and pleased that his second son will be there, even if Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet won’t. This doesn’t mean Archie and Lilibet won’t be welcomed into the royal fold at some future date. I’m sure Charles would like for that to happen. Now that he knows the joys of being a grandparent, on some deep emotional level, the king must feel a connection to Harry and Meghan’s children. But first, all parties have to find a way to mend the torn relationship between the Sussexes and the rest of the clan.”
The Sussexes have a lot to think about.
