The Royals Decided Not to Give Prince Harry a Coronation Role Because It Would “Complicate” Things

Prince Harry is about to embark on the world’s most awkward family reunion this weekend, otherwise known as his dad King Charles’s coronation. A lot of planning has gone into Harry’s attendance at the event (he’s allegedly being seated far enough away from Prince William that photographers won’t be able to snap pics of them together), but don’t expect him to have a formal role.

According to royal expert Gareth Russell, who spoke to Us Weekly about Harry’s trip home, it’s not “surprising that Prince Harry hasn’t been given a role” in the coronation, and the decision was made “not to complicate matters further by having him involved…simply because…the royals are hoping that they can draw a line under the recent controversy with the Duke of Sussex.”

“Prince Harry, as would the king and Prince William, would regret if he wasn’t there,” Russell explained. “So I think generally speaking, the consensus is it’s right that he’s there. It’s probably best that he’s there as King Charles’s son rather than as a working prince of the United Kingdom.”

While Prince Harry won’t have an official role (and is expected to fly home to California mere hours after the coronation so he can be at his son Archie’s birthday party), Prince William and Prince George do. Prince William is presenting King Charles with a stole and robe during the ceremony, while Prince George is one of his grandfather’s pages of honor.

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