Prince Harry delay sparks security headache for coronation planning

Prince Harry’s RSVP delay has caused a security headache, but insiders have revealed what the Duke of Sussex was haggling with the palace over before he confirmed his attendance.

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Prince Harry missed the RSVP deadline to Coronation because he wanted to know where he and Meghan Markle would sit in Westminster Abbey, it has been claimed.

British publications have reported there was a series of messages exchanged between the palace and representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over the issue.

“Harry’s side was keen to find out, presumably because they wanted to rubber-stamp it, what the seating plan at the Abbey is. There’s been extensive back and forth about who they would be sitting behind if they came. And who would be behind them,” a source told the Daily Mail.

“Harry was apparently quite preoccupied by this particular detail.”

It has also been reported that Prince Harry sent questions for the palace about what would happen if he attended and wanted certain “assurances”, but what those were are not known.

It comes as the UK’s Home Office has been left scrambling to ensure the Duke’s safety.

Since the Duke of Sussex’s state-sponsored security detail was removed, he has been required to give the Home Office 28 days’ notice on his plans to return to the United Kingdom.

The announcement of his attendance at the King’s coronation came 24 days out from the May 6 event, and four days shy of the required deadline.

Prince Harry on patrol through the deserted town of Southern Afghanistan in 2008. Picture: AFP

It was unclear if the decision was made on the day of the announcement or earlier. The Duke of Sussex has been accused of sparking serious security concerns when visiting the UK after revealing in his book, Spare, that he killed 25 Taliban fighters while in Afghanistan.

His return for the King’s historic occasion changes the security plan for the entire coronation, with each high-profile guest requiring their own “case-by-case” assessment amid the “huge policing operation”.

Policing minister Chris Philp said he hopes the high-profile crowning of Charles and the Queen Consort in just over three weeks will be similar in success to the “fantastic” handling of the late Queen’s funeral.

Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation on Wednesday when it confirmed Harry will be a guest at Westminster Abbey, despite his troubled relationship with his family, though the Duchess of Sussex will stay in the US and miss Charles’s big day.

The King’s second son, who moved to California after stepping down as a senior working royal, is taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK.

Months ago, Harry was criticised for revealing in his memoir that he killed 25 Taliban insurgents while fighting in Afghanistan, with security experts suggesting it has made him, and those associated with him, targets for retaliation.

Asked what effect Harry’s presence will have on security measures at the coronation, Mr Philp told LBC: “Those obviously get assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

On whether there will be a significant additional cost due to the duke’s attendance, Mr Philp said he’s “not going to get into people’s individual protection arrangements”.

“But, by the way, we’re providing protection for hundreds of foreign heads of state, overseas heads of state who are attending as well,” he said.

“It’s a huge policing operation, both in terms of the streets and obviously protection for individuals, so it’s a big operation.

“We’re going to make sure that everybody involved in the coronation, including the general public, are kept safe, obviously.”

King Charles III said to be left upset over his son Harry’s reluctance to RSVP to the coronation invite. Photo Getty Images

Mr Philp said police did a “fantastic job” at the late Queen’s funeral, adding: “We’re going to work to make sure we have a similar successful operation.”

More than 2,000 guests will gather at the Abbey on May 6 to witness the nation’s first coronation for 70 years, with foreign dignitaries set to include First Lady Jill Biden.

A mass police presence will be out in force on the streets of central London as wellwishers flock to the capital to see the King, Camilla and the royal family take part in a grand carriage procession and make an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort are running behind in their plans to finalise the coronation on May 6. Photo AFP

Harry’s stay in the UK will be brief, with the duke heading quickly back to California to join the celebrations for Prince Archie’s fourth birthday, which coincides with the day of the coronation.

The duke will only be attending the ceremony and not taking part in other coronation festivities during the three-day bank holiday weekend.

A concert is being staged at Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7, with people also encouraged to come together across the country for a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday, May 8, the focus is a Big Help Out volunteering drive.

The Metropolitan Police has yet to comment on the coronation security arrangements.

Originally published as Prince Harry delay sparks security headache for coronation planning