Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received an invitation to attend King Charles III’s coronation despite their strained relationship with the royal family.
The couple say they have been emailed about the coronation, on 6 May, but will not confirm whether they plan to attend.
Charles ascended the throne in September 2022 after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Markle and Harry have had a strained relationship with his family since they stepped down from their senior royal duties in January 2020.
‘I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty’s office regarding the coronation,’ a spokesperson for the pair told The Sunday Times on Sunday.
‘An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.’
It still remains to be seen, however, whether the California-based Sussexes will travel to England to attend the coronation, scheduled to take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey.
The day of the coronation is also the fourth birthday of Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie. The couple also has a 1-year-old daughter, Lilibet.
The relationship between the couple and the Royal family has been strained since the couple stepped down from their senior royal duties in January 2020.
Tensions boiled over when Harry, 38, published a tell-all memoir that revealed all sorts of family secrets, including an alleged physical altercation with his brother, Prince William, and a claim that Charles, 74, enjoyed making hurtful comments about redheaded Harry’s ‘real father.’
In one excerpt of the memoir, the younger son of the late Princess Diana wrote, ‘Pa liked telling stories, and this was one of the best in his repertoire. He’d always end with a burst of philosophizing … Who knows if I’m really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I’m even your real father?
‘He’d laugh and laugh, though it was a remarkably unfunny joke, given the rumor circulating just then that my actual father was one of Mummy’s former lovers: Major James Hewitt,’ he continued.
‘One cause of this rumor was Major Hewitt’s flaming ginger hair, but another cause was sadism.’
The royals have yet to address the contents of the book.
Westminster Abbey, where the coronation will take place, has capacity for about 2,200 guests. Many public figures, politicians and international dignitaries are expected to attend, as well as the King’s family and friends.
Formal printed invitations are expected to be sent closer to the time, but it is believed that some groups of guests are being approached in advance, advising them to save the date.
