Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refused to respond to King …

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly kept King Charles hanging as his coronation date loomed because they were "preoccupied" with the seating plan. Royal sources told the Daily Mail there have been "extensive discussions" between Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes over the issue in a game of "transatlantic ping pong". "Harry's side was keen to find out, presumably because they wanted to rubber-stamp it, what the seating plan at the Abbey is," one source told the publication.

"There's been extensive back and forth about who they would be sitting behind if they came. And who would be behind them. "Harry was apparently quite preoccupied by this particular detail."

Another confirmed the claims, adding "there has been a lot of questions on detail for the Abbey". Sources also told The Mirror that Harry has been in talks with the palace for weeks over his plans to return to the UK. The 38-year-old is understood to have expressed concerns about his security situation and about how he would be received by his family if he were to attend.

It comes after Buckingham Palace released a statement this week saying it was "pleased to confirm" that the Duke of Sussex would make the trip for the event.

However, the former Suits actress will remain in California with the couple's two children - with Archie's fourth birthday falling on the same day as the coronation. Royal insiders claim Meghan is "upset" her two kids were overlooked in the coronation plans, but say she was "never likely" to attend anyway. Meghan's unofficial spokesperson Omid Scobie said that her son's birthday "played a factor in the decision" not to attend.

"I understand that Archie's fourth birthday (also on May 6) played a factor in the couple's decision," Mr Scobie tweeted.

"Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey."