Prince Harry and Meghan Markle weigh up pros and cons of attending coronation

The Sussexes are yet to publicly respond to their coronation invite as a major Aussie star reportedly refuses an offer to perform at the King’s concert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are considering attending the King’s coronation knowing they will be strictly controlled because a no-show will make them appear “irrelevant royals” and damage their marketing value.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a statement confirming they have received an invite for the historic May 6 affair but they have so far refused to confirm whether or not they will attend.

“They will not dare stay away, to do so will show them to be irrelevant royals and for now they get the bulk of their work from being royals – they haven’t made it as celebrity philanthropists in their own right,” royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told News Corp Australia.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle. They are reportedly considering attending the coronation. Picture: Getty Images

“Yes the coronation falls on their son Archie’s fourth birthday but the last thing Harry and Meghan want is to be seen as outsiders. Netflix, who have paid them millions for their life story as royals, may not like that.

“They are weighing up the pros and cons of coming – the pros: they remain relevant; the cons: they will receive an icy reception, other royals will only talk to them about the weather because they will worry what they say will end up in Harry’s next book, Netflix series, or TV talk show,” Mr Fitzwilliams added.

It has been revealed the royal exiles will not be permitted on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and their appearances will be “strictly controlled” at the coronation concert to not upstage the King.

Mr Fitzwilliams says Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have lost popularity on both sides of the Atlantic following the publication of his memoir Spare and are not trusted to freely attend the coronation on May 6.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Picture: Getty Images

The line up for the palace balcony will include only working royals alongside the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

“Prince Harry and Meghan will be asked to the coronation, that is clear, but he is incorrect when he said the ball is in the court of the palace – two polls have made it absolutely clear that the Americans didn’t like the fact he was trashing his family – it doesn’t give them the space they wanted,” he said.

“They’ll be strictly controlled, because they’ll be told what they can do, they won’t be going to the balcony of Buckingham Palace so that they don’t overshadow anything – it’ll only be senior working royals and they’ll be carefully seated at the concert – the palace knows where they are seated, they will be the subject of worldwide attention so the palace will handle this subtly,” he added.

“You may see a lot of [royals] at other [coronation] functions, like a big lunch or the concert … but not them,” he said.

The issue of “battering the palace constantly”, he said, has meant Prince Harry will not get an apology for the way the palace treated the couple because their popularity has waned.

The late Queen Elizabeth II stands with Camilla and Charles to watch a special flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony following the Queen's Birthday Parade. Picture: AFP

As with the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year, the line-up of royals on the balcony will be restricted to working members of the family and will also exclude Prince Andrew who no longer carries out official duties.

Prince Andrew stepped down from his official role after allegations of sexual abuse in November 2019. He vehemently refutes the accusations.

Prince Harry and Ms Markle relinquished their roles three years ago when they quit Britain for a new life in California.

In January, Prince Harry released his autobiography Spare unveiling a litany of grievances against his father, brother the Prince of Wales and Queen Consort Camilla.

There are now rumours of peace talks between the princes and their father which has opened the door for the Sussexes to attend the coronation.

KYLIE ‘TURNS DOWN’ CORONATION CONCERT

Aussie star Kylie Minogue has reportedly joined the list of A-list stars who have turned down offers to perform at King Charles’ coronation concert at Windsor Castle on May 7.

Harry Styles, Adele, Robbie Williams, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Ed Sheeran and ’90s pop sensations the Spice Girls have all reportedly turned down palace invites to perform.

Kylie Minogue with the then Prince Charles at a pre-dinner reception for the Prince’s Trust. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

A spokesperson for Minogue, who was set to join the line-up with sister Dannii, told the Mirror: “Kylie unfortunately won’t be able to perform at the coronation as she will be out of the country at that time.”

Styles will be performing his concert tour, Love On Tour, in Coventry in May and the Spice Girls have turned down the invite.

Reformed boy band Take That and soul star Lionel Richie are now reportedly set to headline the show.