The Duchess of Sussex may regret her “foolish” decision to miss the coronation, says Richard Kay, editor of the Daily Mail at Large.
Prince Harry will alone attend his father’s historic event, as Meghan Markle is set to stay in California, it was revealed earlier this week.
Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been best for both sides if she had decided to come along.
‘It feels like a compromise – Meghan staying away – I think she might regret that in years to come, she won’t have a lot of coronations, and having a ringside seat at one of them seems so silly she shouldn’t do that. Accept and come on,” he told the program.
I think this is the wrong call. I think it would have been better for her and the royal family if they were both there.
The Duchess of Sussex may regret her ‘foolish’ decision to miss the coronation, that’s the view of Daily Mail Large editor Richard Kay
Speaking on our royal talk show Palace Confidential, the veteran royal correspondent believes it would have been best for both sides if she had decided to come.
He added that despite Harry’s decision to attend, it did not represent a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but rather a “ceasefire”.
If they can put their differences aside for Harry to come over, that could potentially show that there is a way forward.
“But there is one thing I would say about this, is that this is not a truce in the war between the Royal Family and Sussex, it is more of a ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail’s editor Richard Eden believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively ‘gave up’ in his battle to get his family to apologize to him and Meghan.
“I think that’s really giving up,” he told the show. You may remember that there was a string of comments in all of these TV interviews he was giving, saying they needed to sit down and discuss things, before they thought about whether or not to come, they wanted to apologize for that sort of thing and for everything. I have heard that this simply did not happen.
Let’s be clear, I think this is the reason Meghan didn’t show up because they didn’t get what they wanted.
After delicate negotiations, described to the Mail as a game of “table tennis across the Atlantic,” Buckingham Palace announced earlier this week that the Duke of Sussex would attend the coronation ceremony.
Meanwhile, Daily Mail editor Richard Eden believes that by agreeing to come, Harry has effectively ‘gave up’ in his battle to get his family to apologize to him and Meghan.
He added that despite Harry’s decision to attend, it does not represent a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the family, but rather a ‘cease-fire’ (pictured, King Charles and Queen Camilla)
But he will come alone, as the Duchess of Sussex is set to stay at home with Prince Archie – who will turn four that day – and Princess Lilibet, one.
His decision to attend Westminster Abbey’s coronation service is seen as a potential olive branch by royal insiders, after previously demanding that his family apologize to him and Meghan if they were to consider coming.
But he is not expected to take part in the procession after the service or join other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, or at other ceremonies.
Sources said Meghan’s decision to stay in California with the couple’s two young children came as a relief in some circles, after fears her presence could escalate family tensions.
It is also understood that there was genuine concern in the Sussex camp about the public reception the couple would have had if they had attended the coronation together.
Friends, including Meghan biographer Omid Scobie, have suggested her decision was largely due to the coronation falling on the same day — May 6 — as Archie’s fourth birthday.
The couple delayed responding to their invitation for weeks, causing difficulties for organizers tasked with complex seating, transportation and security plans for senior royals, world leaders and other dignitaries.
Sources described the negotiations as a game of “table tennis across the Atlantic”, and Harry was said to have wanted numerous assurances about the arrangements.
Today will see him confront his father and brother publicly for the first time since the release of his controversial memoirs, in which he describes a physical fallout with William and calls his stepmother Camilla “dangerous.”
Such is the sensitivity at Buckingham Palace about anything to do with Harry and Meghan that only a small group of senior officials have been party to the talks between the royal family and the Sussex.
The courtiers were trampling on eggshells for fear that the couple would be accused of “leaking” information about their existence and fomenting another round of attacks on the king in the run-up to his historic day. And although many members of the royal family contest much of what the couple has claimed, everyone is careful not to make things more difficult for the 74-year-old monarch.
In this case, the news was specifically timed to a double announcement on both sides of the Atlantic at 3pm BST to minimize any inflaming of tensions.
A statement in London said: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Harry is only planning an air visit, as sources close to the Sussexes indicated yesterday that he will not be returning to Buckingham Palace to meet with the rest of the family or take part in any other events over the weekend. “Expect Prince Harry’s trip to the UK to be fairly quick,” Scobie tweeted.
Sussex supporters said he understood this was the biggest day of his father’s life and felt it was right to be there, despite his attack on the family.
Harry has publicly called on his family to apologize to himself and Meghan for what they see as insults. He also demanded that his father and brother sit down with him before May 6th to resolve their issues.
But insiders told The Mail both Charles and William were hurt and angry at Harry’s behavior – and neither man was inclined to defer to him.
