The reason Prince Harry might be missing from official Coronation …

coronation article top embed

The Duke of Sussex may not appear in the official Coronation portraits as he prioritises a swift return to his family in California, The Telegraph understands. Prince Harry, 38, is expected to arrive in the UK hours ahead of his father's Coronation. However, it will be a fleeting 24-hour visit as he dashes back in a bid to see his son, Prince Archie, on his fourth birthday, which falls on the same day.

A source close to the Duke said he would "do his best" to attend as many Coronation events as possible. But he has not made any firm commitments as it will depend on how the timings fall on the day. As a non-working Royal, the Duke will not take part in the grand procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace alongside other members of the family and he will not be appearing on the palace balcony.

In order to take part in the portrait session, which will take place after the flypast, he would have to hang around in the background for some time. It is debatable whether he will want to join the family for an informal lunch, likely to take place before the portrait session begins.

Potentially unenviable task for Coronation photographer

Hugo Burnand, the official Coronation photographer, will not know until the moment whether he will have the unenviable task of suppressing family tensions to ensure everyone present poses with a suitably big smile for the history books. Lord Soames, a close friend of the King, this week disclosed that the Duke's behaviour towards his family had come as a "terrible blow" to the monarch, describing it a "most tragic" turn of events.

The Duke confirmed last month that he would attend the Coronation amid growing hopes of a reconciliation with his father.

The Duchess, 41, opted instead to remain in California with their children Archie and one-year-old Lilibet in order to host the young prince's birthday party. Prince Harry spent several weeks agonising over whether to travel back to London for his father's crowning owing to the rift that has divided the family. He was also concerned about security and refused to confirm his attendance until he was given a cast-iron guarantee that he would be afforded full police protection.

The Duke is suing the Home Office over its decision to remove his right to automatic, 24-hour taxpayer-funded armed protection whenever he or his family are in the UK.

But despite a turbulent few months, Prince Harry was said to be acutely aware that the occasion will be immensely important for the King. Royal sources said his decision to attend had pleased the King, who was keen to have the support of both of his sons at the ceremony. Sources have previously suggested that in his haste, the Duke planned only to attend the two-hour Coronation service at the Abbey before heading straight off to the airport.

However, aides insisted on Friday that he will keep an open mind and would play it by ear on the day. His full travel plans have not been disclosed for security reasons but it has been reported that he may travel in and out of Santa Barbara by private jet. The Duke is expected to stay at Frogmore Cottage, his Windsor home, for what will be the final time.

The King evicted the Duke and Duchess from the property at the beginning of the year, days after the publication of Harry's memoir, Spare.

The couple were given until early summer, shortly after the Coronation, to vacate.