Coronation planners 'exasperated' over Harry and Meghan's lack of …
Harry and Meghan's reluctance to say whether they're going to King's coronation 'causes huge headache for organisers' - as royal expert says delay is 'getting a little rude now'
- Duke and Duchess are claimed to be undecided over whether they will attend
- RSVP date of April 3 has now passed ahead of ceremony in London on May 6
Published: 10:18, 12 April 2023 | Updated: 10:18, 12 April 2023
Organisers of the King's coronation are 'exasperated' over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's reluctance to confirm whether they will attend, sources have claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to be undecided over whether they will fly in for the May 6 ceremony, despite the RSVP date of April 3 having passed.
The uncertainty over the California-based Sussexes is thought to have left royal officials unable to sign off arrangements for seating plans, transport and security.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson said it was 'a little rude now to say the least' that the couple had not responded, urging them: 'Don't just keep everyone guessing.'
He added that the event would be an 'ideal opportunity' for King Charles III to see his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet, and Meghan should 'realise it's not all about her'.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019
Royal sources told the Daily Mirror that the couple had given organisers a headache, although there had been 'email correspondence' with Buckingham Palace in recent weeks.
One source told the newspaper that Harry and Meghan 'still haven't confirmed either way', adding: 'Of course they will be afforded extra time but in all honesty, everyone is exasperated with them.'
Harry is said to remain in a 'predicament' over whether to attend, with one possibility that he could come alone and Meghan would stay in the US given that Archie will celebrate his fourth birthday on the day of the coronation.
Palace sources also told the Mirror that the coronation plans would continue to presume Harry and Meghan will attend 'unless advised otherwise'.
MailOnline has contacted a spokesman for the Sussexes for comment today.
Mr Jobson, who has written a new book about Charles's life called 'Our King', told TalkTV last night: 'I wish Meghan would realise it's not all about her... they have been given an RSVP, they have missed that deadline.
'It's getting a little rude now to say the least. You are either going to support your dad on his moment of destiny or you are not.
'But don't just keep everyone guessing because that then creates the whole tabloid speculation, when it's basically saying it's all about them, and frankly it's not all about them, it really isn't. It would be an ideal opportunity for him to see his grandchildren as well.'
However, one insider insisted last night that Buckingham Palace was 'confident' that the coronation will 'go to plan' despite claims of 'chaos' and 'massive headaches' behind the scenes.
With the coronation less than a month away, some claimed that royal aides were in disarray over planning, including uncertainty caused by Harry and Meghan's reluctance to say whether they will attend.
However, an insider has rubbished the claims and said there was 'huge confidence' that all would go to plan.
The palace has been making final preparations for the once-in-a-generation ceremony, which will see Charles ascend the throne at Westminster Abbey, while Camilla will be made Queen.
A royal source last night aimed to reassure the nation that everyone at the Palace was working hard to ensure the occasion runs as planned, telling the Mirror: 'Everyone is pulling in the right direction.
'The King and Queen Consort want it to be perfect as does everyone involved which is why everything is being done to make it so.'
But this came after one anxious insider had told the Mirror: 'It's all very frantic, complete chaos to be frank.'
'There is a plan, which is supposed to be the blueprint of how the day should operate, but things are changing daily which is causing massive headaches.'
The Abbey will be filled with 2,000 people for the service - down from a potential guestlist of 7,000 - including leaders from the likes of France, Spain and Japan.
US President Joe Biden called Charles to let him know he will not be attending the service in central London, sending his wife Jill instead, in what some commentators have viewed as a snub.
Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned in the Abbey and at 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest to ever be crowned.
The service is expected to be watched by hundreds of millions across the globe in what will be a masterclass in pomp and pageantry, despite the King's decision to 'slim down' the occasion.
The service itself will start at 11am and be 'solemn and religious' while also offering 'celebration and pageantry', according to the Royal Family website.
It will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and 'will reflect the Monarch's role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions.'
Among those will be the role of the Page of Honour, carried out by Prince George and seven other boys.
The Gold State Coach during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London in June 2022
The historic ceremonial position will see the eight youngsters - four for each monarch - carry the King and Queen's robes into the Abbey.
If Harry and Meghan do attend the service, they will not take part in the Coronation procession afterwards nor join senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, it was previously reported.
Prince William will be the only royal liege man at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to 'pay homage' to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father's cheek.
The action is usually performed by all the royal dukes, but Charles scrapped the traditional obligation, effectively absolving Harry of any ceremonial duties.
Harry and Meghan's children, Archie, aged three, and one-year-old Lilibet, are too young to perform roles in the ceremony.
Royal author Phil Dampier previously told MailOnline: 'They are too young to be involved in the actual ceremony but of course the King would love to see his grandchildren if they came over and it must be heartbreaking for him that he never sees them.'
Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles, pictured at the State Opening of Parliament in 2013
And royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam also previously told MailOnline: 'Harry and Meghan will almost certainly attend as they would be isolated if they did not.
'When they do attend, as I fully expect they will, they will almost certainly have no role to perform in the ceremony.
'The Royal Family knows how to deal with them and is only too aware of the harm they have willfully done the Royal Family for monetary gain.
'The talk with other royals will be of the weather.
They will not, with reason, be trusted.
They have only themselves to blame for that and for their declining ratings.'
Over the weekend, glittering ceremonial celebrations for the coronation were unveiled, detailing the procession route, the carriages and the priceless Crown Jewels chosen to play a starring role.
Charles and the Queen Consort will travel in a shorter procession route than the late Elizabeth II and break with tradition by only using the elaborate 260-year-old Gold State Coach one way - on their return.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020
The monarch and Camilla have personally decided to make the 1.3 mile outward journey - known as the King's Procession - from Buckingham Palace in the more modern, comfortable Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which has shock absorbers, heating and air conditioning.
They will travel, accompanied by The Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, down The Mall via Admiralty Arch, along the south side of Trafalgar Square, along Whitehall and Parliament Street, around the east and south sides of Parliament Square to Broad Sanctuary to arrive at the Abbey.
The priceless array of coronation regalia from the Crown Jewels which will be used during the religious service in the Abbey has also been confirmed.
It will include the Sovereign's Orb, the Golden Spurs, bracelets known as Armills, two maces, five symbolic swords, the Sovereign's Ring, the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Dove.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson told Jeremy Kyle's TalkTV show that it was 'a little rude now to say the least' that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had not responded to the coronation invite
Camilla will be crowned, as previously announced, with the modified Queen Mary's Crown, but she will also hold the Queen Consort's Rod with Dove - despite the controversial rod being made from ivory.
The piece is said to symbolise equity and mercy, and the dove, with its folded wings, represents the Holy Ghost.
Camilla will also hold the Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross, which originally made for the coronation of Mary of Modena, Queen Consort of James II, in 1685 and is inlaid with rock crystals.
As part of the proceedings, she will receive the Queen Consort's Ring - a ruby in a gold setting made for the Coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide in 1831, and used by three further Queens Consort - Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and the Queen Mother.
As previously announced, Charles will be crowned with the 17th century St Edward's Crown which has been resized to fit his head.
He will switch it for the lighter Imperial State Crown at the end of the ceremony as is the custom.