THE ROYAL Coronation date has been announced and will see King Charles being crowned as the new sovereign.
But a royal expert has said that two members of the royal family – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – could skip the occasion.
King Charles will be crowned on Saturday May 6, 2023, Buckingham Palace has announced, which Former Royal Editor Duncan Larcombe pointed out clashes with Archie’s fourth birthday.
Duncan told Fabulous: “As a non-working member of the Royal family, there is nothing to say Prince Harry must be at the Coronation.
“But the fact it clashes with Archie’s birthday may well gift the Duke and Duchess of Sussex what they need.
“It will ultimately come down to what happens between now and next May.
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“If the rift remains, few would expect Harry to attend.
“But if relations between them improve over the next six months then this is an event Charles will want both his sons to witness.”
Duncan, who is author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Harry would prefer to skip the celebrations.
He added: “As things currently stand, I suspect Harry would be happier lighting his son’s birthday cake candles that day rather than sitting in the shadows of Westminster Abbey watching his father and brother take centre stage.”
Charles officially became King following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
However, it is tradition to wait until a sufficient time period of mourning has passed, before crowning the new sovereign.
His Majesty’s coronation in Westminster Abbey will be almost 70 years after his mother the Queen was crowned.
The late Queen’s coronation took place on June 2, 1953 – over a year after she ascended to the throne following the death of her father King George VI.
Sources have said that the ceremony will be shorter, smaller and less expensive than that of Queen Elizabeth II’s.
It is also said it will be planned to be representative of different faiths and community groups, in hopes of falling in line with the King’s wish to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain.
Brits can expect to get some time off to celebrate the new monarch, and discussions about which days will be bank holidays are ongoing, according to Bloomberg.
The calendar clash sparked a flurry of chatter from fans of both the King, 73, and Queen Consort, 75, and the Sussexes – with many torn on what to make of it.
Royal expert Angela Levin hit back at claims by Harry and Meghan’s fans who she said were suggesting the day “belongs to Archie”.
In a punchy tweet, she slammed: “Several tweets from Meghan and Harry supporters complaining that the Coronation is on ‘a day that belongs to Archie’.
“He will be four on May 6 so far too young to care about dates. It’s presents and cake that count.”
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It sparked a fierce Twitter row, with fans of Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, jumping to the defence of the California-based duo.
One said: “Unbelievable!! There are 365 Days in the year! Why? Just why?”
But fans of the King and Queen Consort rushing to defend the King, with one Twitter user joking: “More like ‘well played Charles’.”
