Prince Harry’s relationship with the royal family—particularly with King Charles and Prince William—had long been fraught with tension by the time he returned to the UK for the King’s coronation on May 6, 2023.
The visit, which coincided with his son Prince Archie’s fourth birthday, was brief, and since then, questions have circulated about whether Harry will be invited to William’s future coronation.
The Duke of Sussex’s May 2 interview with the BBC seems to have further strained family ties. Sources told Page Six that it may have marked a turning point in the rift, especially with William, making reconciliation unlikely.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, a friend of the royal family, told Page Six that while William could invite Harry to his coronation, it’s entirely up to him. “Theoretically, he should,” Vickers said. “But quite frankly, he can do what he likes. It is not set in stone.”
Historical precedent supports the possibility of exclusion. When King Edward VIII—later the Duke of Windsor—abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, he was not invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
Vickers noted that there had been “a lot of discussion” about whether Edward should attend. Ultimately, Queen Elizabeth told the Archbishop of Canterbury that her uncle’s presence would be “wholly and entirely undesirable,” as reported by The Standard. Edward had also written to Prime Minister Winston Churchill asking about an invitation, but Churchill responded firmly that it would be “quite inappropriate.”
In fact, Edward never had a coronation himself. After he abdicated, his brother became King George VI and used the original date planned for Edward’s coronation—May 12, 1937—for his own. Edward, then living in Paris, watched his niece’s coronation on television.
Given this precedent, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for Harry to be excluded from a future coronation. However, when it comes to removing royal titles, Vickers believes Prince William is unlikely to strip Harry and Meghan of their HRH styles. “We know that William is unforgiving, anyway,” he said, but emphasized that such a move would seem “vindictive.”
Security arrangements are another point of contention. After Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in 2020, their publicly funded security was withdrawn. That decision was upheld on appeal earlier this month. However, if Harry were to return to the UK for official royal events—such as a coronation—he and Meghan would qualify for full security protection, but only if they are formally invited.
Despite the deepening rift, Harry expressed a wish for peace in his BBC interview, saying he “would love reconciliation with my family,” and added, “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.”
Just days later, King Charles, who Harry says he is not currently in contact with, made a notable remark at a charity event for Elephant Family, an organization founded by Queen Camilla’s late brother.
In a speech that many viewed as pointed, the King praised collaboration over division, telling the audience: “It just seems to be that this is a great example of why collaboration is far better than conflict.”
