Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, attended his father's coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London today, Saturday. However, he sat in the third row and did not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during a significant moment of the ceremony. It was not clear before early April whether Harry, who currently lives in California, would attend the historic event due to his conflict with the family.
Harry (38 years old) smiled upon arriving at the church, dressed in morning attire with medals on his chest, having served with British forces in Afghanistan. He left his wife Meghan and their two children in the United States.
Prince Harry did not have any official role in the coronation ceremony and watched as his older brother William, the heir to the throne, knelt before their father to pledge his loyalty, which was met with cheers from the crowds outside. Later, Harry did not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where King Charles, his wife Queen Camilla, their eldest son Prince William, and other senior royal family members waved to the crowds. Prince Andrew, King Charles's brother, also did not appear on the palace balcony, having been forced to relinquish his royal duties due to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Harry was once one of the most famous members of the royal family, and his wedding to American actress Meghan, held at Windsor Castle in May 2018, was a major event that the crowds were excited to witness. However, public opinion has been divided regarding the prince's decision to step back from royal duties and his conflict with the family.
Lisa Penny (53), a supermarket worker from Dorset, expressed that there still exists a sense of "some kind of rift" after all that has been said. She added, "I think he has caused a great deal of damage, and I believe they need some time to overcome that. I am happy he is here for his father."
Others expressed happiness at seeing Prince Harry at the coronation ceremony, noting that no one knows what happens behind closed doors among royal family members. Jacqueline Brown (28), a museum official from Missouri who came to attend the event, expressed her joy at Harry's presence, stating, "He is the king's son; he should be here to support him. It’s great that he did that despite everything."
In his book titled "Spare," published in January, Harry criticized his father, his father's consort Queen Camilla, and his brother Prince William, accusing the royal family of treating him and his wife Meghan coldly. Harry, known formally as the Duke of Sussex, moved to the United States with Meghan in 2020 and has only appeared at a few occasions in Britain since then.
