Does anyone have ‘the whole Sussex family make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace’ on their 2023 Royal Family bingo card? Because it looks like it might be a thing that actually happens (although we honestly never expected to see a Sussex join a balcony photo op again in a post-Spare world).
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have pushed for some changes to their family’s proposed role in the coronation before agreeing to respond, and the palace is stressing that “chaos” could ensue.
“The Palace is trying to conclude the negotiations as quickly as possible because they cannot go through with it. This could lead to chaos,” a royal insider said. ALL RIGHT! magazine. “It could very well end in a stalemate and they won’t be present. But the Palace is doing everything in its power to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
After the coronation of King Charles, the royal family are expected to gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to the crowd / give people time to take a billion photos of them and Harry and Meghan are said to have requested that they and their children, Archie and Lilibet, be included. Given that only working royals are currently expected to be invited to appear on the balcony, this is quite a request and one that still doesn’t seem very likely to be granted.
Archie and Lilibet are not expected to attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey and Harry and Meghan would be fine with them skipping that part of the festivities (since Archie and Lili are three and one respectively, and would, in addition to not having fun at all, be subject to “restlessness and temper tantrums”, as the royal source put it). “However, what the Sussexes are asking for is that they be included with the rest of the family at the Palace later today,” the source explained (per The mirror).
The final item from this week’s anonymous royal source came off Harry and Meghan’s coronation wishlist: Literally any kind of recognition on Archie’s birthday, which is the same day as the coronation.
“It’s also Prince Archie’s birthday on coronation day, so they’d love a nod to that over lunch or a happy hour,” the insider added. “Even if it’s just a mention of happy birthday.”
So, to recap in more ordinary terms, Harry and Meghan are basically asking to be included in a family photo, to be allowed to bring their children to certain family functions at their grandfather’s house, and for loved ones to say “Happy Birthday.” to their son on his birthday.