King Charles’ coronation balcony appearance to include ‘working …

King Charles and Camilla will mark their coronation on the Buckingham Palace balcony without Prince Harry and Meghan, according to royal insiders. Their Majesties will be joined by 15 family members to watch the flypast over Buckingham Palace following the coronation service on May 6. But the line up will be strictly limited to working royals as King Charles aims to project a "slimmed-down" British monarchy, reported The Mirror. 

This means Prince Harry and Meghan will be snubbed from the appearance, should they choose to attend to coronation.  "The King has been very clear who he wants to represent the monarchy," a source told the publication "There is little room for sentiment, this is a State occasion, not a family occasion and it is right that only the working members of the family are there at the big public moment." 

Prince William and Kate are set to appear beside the newly coronated Charles and Camilla, along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. They will also be joined by Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Under Charles' policy, Prince Andrew will be barred from the traditional family gathering after he was stripped of his royal duties over his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The balcony appearance will follow the traditional Westminster coronation ceremony, which has been tipped to be shorter and smaller in size compared to the crowning of late-Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Ancient customs like the monarch being presented with several golden objects including spurs, bracelets and a robe will likely be scrapped, and the guest list will be downsized to just 2,000 people.  On Tuesday the public was given its first glimpse of the official coronation invite, which will be sent out to guests over the next two weeks.

Reflecting the King's passion for environmental issues, the invitation is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. The invite was designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator whose work is inspired by the chivalric themes of Arthurian legend. "The original artwork for the invitation was hand-painted in watercolour and gouache, and the design will be reproduced and printed on recycled card, with gold foil detailing," Mr Jamieson revealed on his website on Tuesday.

Mr Jamison's design prominently features the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore that symbolises spring and rebirth and nods to a new reign.