Meghan Markle’s party plans for son Archie’s 4th birthday while Prince Harry attends Coronation

Meghan Markle’s plans to mark son Archie’s fourth birthday on the same day as his grandfather’s coronation will be an intimate celebration with a few famous faces.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with baby Archie who turns four on the same day his grandfather is formally crowned King Charles III. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/ AFP

The Duchess of Sussex is planning an intimate celebration to mark son Archie’s birthday on May 6 – the same day the youngster’s grandfather will be anointed King Charles III.

While Prince Harry is attending his father’s coronation in England, his wife Meghan Markle will be busy making sure the celebration of Archie’s 4th birthday goes off without a hitch.

The Duke doesn’t plan on missing his son’s special day either and, just hours after attending the coronation at Westminster Abbey in London, hopes to be back home in California to celebrate Archie’s 4th birthday.

It will be a mad dash for Prince Harry but, thanks to the eight-hour time difference, a source says he hopes to be back at the couple’s Montecito estate by early evening.

“Harry’s going to make every effort to get back in time for Archie’s birthday,” said the source.

“It’s going to be an intimate party, it’s not going to be like ‘My Super Sweet 16’ or Portia de Rossi’s 50th!”

The Sussexes Harry and Meghan pose for their Christmas card last year with Archie and Lilibet Picture: Alexi Lubomirski/The Times

But, while intimate, the invitation list is said to include a few celeb friends of the Sussexes as well as Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and of course some of Archie’s pals and their parents.

Prince Harry’s attendance at his father’s coronation without his 41-year-old wife by his side, was confirmed this week.

Archie sits on his mum’s lap during a video chat alongside Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. Picture: Twitter

It will be the first time the Prince has faced his family alone since the release of his stunning memoir Spare.

But royal sources say both father and son see the Prince’s attendance at the historic event as an opportunity to heal some of the wounds inflicted by the explosive revelations made in the 38-year-old prince’s memoir that detailed heated spats with his brother William in the presence of their father.

Stunning claims included being pushed to the ground by his older brother, Prince William, during an argument, begging his father not to marry his “wicked stepmother” Camilla and the rift between Kate and Meghan over the latter’s “baby brain” comments.

The memoir was said to be the final straw for the Prince and Princess of Wales following the Sussex’s Netflix docu-series and tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Frosty … Catherine, Princess of Wales, was clearly uncomfortable during the walkabout to meet wellwishers after the Queen’s death in September 2022. Picture: Getty

Last month royal author Robert Jobson revealed in his new book about King Charles that the Princess of Wales had found her Windsor walkabout with Prince William and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the Queen’s death “one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do”.

And, while Prince Harry and King Charles are open to repairing their relationship, royal insiders have confirmed Prince William is still not talking to his younger brother.

It comes as rumours that Meghan had been struck from the list of attendees invited to the coronation by sister-in-law Kate have been proved false by senior palace officials.

But that hasn’t stopped speculation over Meghan’s decision to stay home in California instead of joining Prince Harry with the children and celebrating Archie’s birthday in the UK as they did for Lilibet’s 1st birthday last June.

Diana Mountbatten-Windsor photographed on her 1st birthday in June last year by close family friend Misan Harriman

According to sources, Prince Harry’s decision to attend the coronation came after he had an open and heartfelt talk with his dad. Since then, sources say there has been a “willingness and wanting to mend on both sides”.

Sources say the Duke wanted to attend to show “support for his father” and because he understood the “importance and significance” the event had for the country.

In a speech to mark the 200th Sovereign’s Parade just days ago, the King spoke of his “immense pride” in sons William and Harry.

Happier times … A young Prince Harry and Prince William accompany their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales Charles and Diana. on a public walkabout.

While addressing cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where his sons graduated from in 2006, King Charles gave a shout-out to his boys.

“I am under no illusions as to how hard you have all worked over the past 44 weeks, and I hope you feel justifiably proud of your achievements. Of course, I know you would not be here without the tremendous support of your family and friends who, I am delighted to see, can join us in such numbers today,” the King said.

“And, speaking as a father of two alumni of this Academy who remembers their passing out parades, I know they will be full of immense pride in witnessing you on parade.”

King Charles III inspects the 200th Sovereign’s parade at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Prince Harry won’t have an official role during the coronation but his presence, although brief, will be an important reminder that he is still a member of the royal family.

And, in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace this week, the royals said they were “pleased” the Duke of Sussex had agreed to be at the Coronation.

Insiders say the King is “happy” with his son’s decision and “understanding” of Meghan staying behind with 22-month-old Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, who turns four the same day as the King is crowned.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice — the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – remain close to their cousin and will stand alongside him as he watches his father’s one-time mistress, Queen Consort Camilla, be crowned queen, the title once promised to his late mother Diana.

Archie touches an image of his late grandmother, Diana. Picture: Netflix

Camilla will no longer be referred to as the “Queen Consort” after the coronation. Picture: Max Mumby/Getty

Meghan is said to back Harry’s decision and her decision to stay home is because of the clash with Archie’s birthday.

While no doubt disappointed he won’t be able to see Archie and Lilibet face-to-face, King Charles still has a presence in his grandchildren’s lives via video chat, as revealed by Prince Harry a few years back.

“Both my grandparents do Zoom,” Harry said in 2021. “They’ve seen Archie running around.”