Meghan Markle included in King Charles’ coronation book
King Charles’ latest move has royal watchers declaring he’s offering an “olive branch” to the estranged Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.
The monarch has prominently featured a photograph of the controversial Duke and Duchess of Sussex in his official coronation souvenir program.
Markle’s appearance is raising eyebrows considering she’s infamously not attending the historic May 6 event.
The fun family photo was actually snapped in Clarence Gardens in 2018 for Charles’ 70th birthday, which explains the absence of Harry and Meghan’s babes Princess Lilibet, 1, and Prince Archie, 3.
Of course, some social media watchdogs are cattily calling out the dated image.
“Prince Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet were in the UK last year for the late queen jubilee,” one commenter snarked. “King Charles couldn’t get a family picture with his sons and their children last year, so he is using a picture from 2018 in his coronation program. They didn’t attend Lilibet BD party.”
Another chimed in: “Peace offering? It’s giving using Archie’s christening picture to wish him a happy birthday for the past 3 years because you don’t have recent pictures with your grandkids.”
The sovereign of Britain, now 74, and his 75-year-old wife, Queen Consort Camilla, are featured in the snap sitting on a bench and coddling their grandchildren Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince George, 9.
Behind the king and queen consort stood Markle, 41, and Harry, 38, as well as his brother Prince William, 40, his spouse Kate Middleton, 41, and their youngest son Prince Louis, 4.
The glossy 84-page packet costs $25 and is now on sale at UK outlets up until the big event on May 6. A percentage of profits will go to the Royal Collection Trust and SSAFA, an Armed Forces charity.
As previously mentioned, the former “Suits” star will infamously not be attending the coronation. Harry, however, will be making an appearance.
May 6 is also the date of their son Archie’s 4th birthday and Markle will stay with him and his daughter, Lilibet, at their home in Montecito, California.
Harry reportedly plans to make his visit to the United Kingdom a quick one, as he will fly back to the USA right after the ceremony, according to reports.
The Invictus Games founder will allegedly be seated several rows behind the Prince of Wales and other senior members of the royal family during the coronation.
Sources told UK outlets that the deliberate seating arrangement will be made to prevent the two estranged brothers from having any sort of confrontation or other “awkward encounters” at the party.
Other members of the Firm may be giving Harry the “cold shoulder” during the coronation, having “no interest in speaking to him apart from exchanging pleasantries,” the source also claimed.
The outlet reported that Harry will probably sit next to his cousins, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be performing the ritual of the crowning next month at Westminster Abbey.
He noted in the souvenir program how he will anoint Charles at the ceremony and the King will swap his “robes of status and honor” for a plain white shirt. The anointing portion of the event will not be televised due to its religious significance.
The Archbishop wrote that Charles will come before God as a servant “in the full knowledge that the task is difficult and he needs help.”
“In the full knowledge that even as a king, he is one of the people and that even if he has a particular role to fulfill, he shares in our human frailties and vulnerabilities,” the priest added.
“[Coronations] often carry with them the hopes and prayers of nations for peace, justice and the common good,” he went on.
Meanwhile, a medley of musical stars will be performing at the coronation concert — after Harry Styles and Adele allegedly declined.
Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and Lionel Richie will be singing at the show at Windsor Castle on May 7.
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