Prince Harry to skip King's Coronation concert to rush home to …
Prince Harry will skip the King's Coronation concert to fly back home to the US just hours after watching Charles being crowned. The Duke of Sussex has told his father he will not stay for the weekend of celebrations following the historic ceremony on May 6. Now planners will not need to reserve a seat for Harry at the musical extravaganza featuring All Night Long singer Lionel Richie, Take That and Katy Perry.
Instead of attending the May 7 gig at Windsor Castle, he will rush to be with his family in California and belatedly celebrate his son Archie's fourth birthday, sources revealed. After weeks of dithering, Harry, 38, finally confirmed last week that he would attend his father's Coronation.
King Charles will make sweet gesture to Commonwealth as he is anointed with holy oil
Katy Perry is among the stars due to perform at the King's Coronation Concert (PA)
Andrea Bocelli is another singer on the line-up (PA)
But his wife Meghan, 41, is staying at home with their children Prince Archie, whose birthday is on the same day as the Coronation, and Princess Lilibet, who is two in June. Harry will be alone when he meets the King, Queen Consort and Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time since savaging them in his Netflix series and -explosive memoir Spare.
Sources close to the Duke also said he has no plans to visit any of the charities he is attached to during his brief visit. But Harry told family members he is planning to return to the UK in the summer. A royal source revealed: "After much back and forth, Harry said that he would be returning for the King's Coronation but it will
only be a fleeting visit.
"Organisers have been told Harry won't be attending the concert with the rest of the Royal Family, which is a great shame as it will be such a spectacular event."
Lionel Richie will be dancing on the ceiling at the Coronation Concert (Getty Images for ABA)
Another major factor in Harry's early exit is believed to be the loss of his round-the-clock protection from armed police. The Duke is involved in an ongoing High Court action with the Home Office over a decision to strip him of his UK security following his exit from The Firm in 2020. In a publicity blitz to promote his bombshell memoir in January, Harry appealed for reconciliation with his family saying "the ball is in their court".
But royal sources said despite the King being cordial with his youngest son ahead of his visit, other family members are certain to be "less forgiving". According to the BBC, the concert will celebrate a new chapter in the UK's history and have "themes of love, respect and optimism", while honouring the four home nations and the Commonwealth.
Take That will also be performing for the King as part of the Coronation (Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Some 20,000 members of the public will attend the Coronation concert, which will be aired on BBC1 and Radio 2 along with catch-up services. Other acts scheduled to perform include opera singers Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul pioneer Alexis Ffrench.
Meanwhile, more than 57 locations across the UK will have big screens erected enabling around 100,000 people to watch the -Coronation events in their home towns, according to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.