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Meghan and Harry ‘expected to attend’ coronation, ‘being included in seating plans by Palace’

Despite publicly announcing no official RSVP since receiving their invitation, it appears the Palace is expecting Harry and Meghan to show up.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Harry and Meghan are “expected” to attend King Charles’ coronation, it is reported.

Sources told the Daily Mail Buckingham Palace staff are including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the seating plans for the event.

But insiders say the California-based duo have not formally accepted the King’s email invitation for the May 6 crowning, reports The Sun.

A source told the paper: “Harry and Meghan are being factored into all of the planning ….

“The cars, the seating plans, dining arrangements, everything.

“The staff are certainly working on the expectation they are coming.

“These kind of arrangements have to be made well in advance.”

Another source told the Mail “the indication” is that the pair will attend despite “a lot” of work needed on arranging their attendance.

A spokesman for the Sussexes said last week the pair had received an email invitation from the palace but added an “immediate decision” on their attendance will “not be disclosed by us at this time”.

The question of whether or not they will attend has been dominating headlines. Picture: Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The question of whether or not they will attend has been dominating headlines. Picture: Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Royal commentator Ingrid ­Seward previously told The Sun she fully expected Harry to attend, despite the recent furore over explosive Spare and TV revelations

She said: “I’m sure Harry will be there.

“How can he not come to his dad’s Coronation after writing a whole book about forgiveness? I am not so sure about Meghan.”

Royal experts predict the coronation will “dwarf” even last year’s spectacular celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The events will take place on Saturday May 6, Sunday May 7 and Monday May 8, which has been declared a bank holiday to mark the Coronation.

King Charles III is said to be very keen on his son’s attendance. Picture: Chris Radburn - WPA/Getty Images
King Charles III is said to be very keen on his son’s attendance. Picture: Chris Radburn - WPA/Getty Images

On the Saturday morning, the King and Queen Consort will arrive at Westminster Abbey in The King’s Procession having made the half-mile journey from Buckingham Palace.

The Coronation service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry”.

The ceremony is set to last about 90 minutes — compared to the late Queen’s three-hour Coronation.

Westminster Abbey is expected to hold around 2,000 guests rather than the 8,000 it did in 1953.

After the service, the newly-crowned King and Queen Consort will return to the Palace in a larger ceremonial parade known as the Coronation Procession.

This is expected to include ­thousands of troops, military bands and other members of the royal family.

After the procession, the royal family are expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as Meghan and Harry ‘expected to attend’ coronation, ‘being included in seating plans by Palace’

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/meghan-and-harry-expected-to-attend-coronation-being-included-in-seating-plans-by-palace/news-story/ffbe0fd5631365ffb6cc0e1ffb55517f