Princes William and Harry, siblings who are rumored to have not crossed paths in eight months, appeared to maintain a distance from each other at the coronation ceremony of their father, King Charles III, held on Saturday. William, accompanied by his wife and children, and Harry, attending the ceremony alone, did not engage with each other during the service at Westminster Abbey.
William, the heir to the throne, entered the Abbey in a procession with Kate, the Princess of Wales, and their children – Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.
Harry, who has stepped down from his senior royal role since 2020, entered the church with his cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. He sat roughly three rows behind William and his family. Harry’s wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, remained in California and did not attend the coronation.
The last public appearance of Harry with his royal family was at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September. In January, Harry released a bestselling memoir, “Spare,” which revealed tensions with his immediate family, particularly William.
Buckingham Palace, the office of Charles and Queen Camilla, and Kensington Palace, the office of William and Kate, have not publicly commented on the claims made by Harry in “Spare.”
Harry’s previous visit to the UK was in March for a British tabloid court case hearing, during which he is not believed to have met with Charles or William. Despite the strained relations, Harry has expressed hopes for reconciliation.
In a January interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan, Harry said, “If we can get to the point of reconciliation, that will have a ripple effect across the world. I genuinely believe that, and that’s kind of what is pushing me. And if that doesn’t happen, then that’s very sad.”
After the coronation service, Harry left Westminster Abbey and entered a car. As a non-working royal, he did not join the family procession back to Buckingham Palace or appear on the balcony, a long-held royal tradition. According to sources, Harry plans to return to California shortly after the service, coinciding with Archie’s 4th birthday on Saturday.
Harry’s decision to attend the coronation, even without Meghan, raised hopes for reconciliation among royal family fans. ABC News royal contributor Victoria Murphy stated that while the chances of reconciliation during the busy coronation weekend were slim, Harry’s presence alone in support of Charles was a positive step forward. She mentioned that Harry’s participation allowed the monarchy to convey a message of harmony and unity, even if the reality behind the scenes might differ. Murphy emphasized that Harry’s strong connection to the royal world from his upbringing made his attendance a significant statement.