meghan markle king charles coronation
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive to attend a memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square in London, on April 23, 2018, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence. (Photo by Victoria Jones / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read VICTORIA JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

Whether or not Meghan Markle and Prince Harry would choose to attend – or even be invited to – the coronation of King Charles III was the subject of much speculation leading up to the historic event taking place in London on May 6th. Following reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had missed the RSVP date, it was confirmed by both the couple and the palace that Prince Harry would be flying to the UK solo, leaving Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, at home in California. 

At the time, the reason given to the public was that Markle would stay behind to celebrate Archie’s birthday, something that seemingly confirmed the rumored reason they hadn’t confirmed their attendance until the last minute: specific requests – such as there being some kind of celebration for Archie’s birthday, which falls on the same day as the coronation – had reportedly been asked of the royals, which appear, given Markle’s absence, to have been declined. 

According to a new People report, there’s more to the story of Markle choosing to skip the coronation than just Archie’s 4th birthday (of course). The publication spoke to multiple sources who made it clear that the rift between Harry, Meghan and the royal family played a bigger role in the couple’s decision than initially reported and that there has been no private reconciliation with the family, following their Oprah interview, Netflix documentary and the release of Harry’s memoir Spare. 

“At this point, it’s become so personal,” the source said. “Maybe what they wanted wasn’t achieved, but at the end of the day, he’s going there to support his dad.” They added that Charles is “pleased” Harry is attending.

meghan markle prince harry
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“Meghan wants to be there to support her father-in-law, but at the same time, the scrutiny she receives outweighs the support,” they continued. “There’s always going to be that other side challenging their reasoning, and who wants to put themselves in that position?”

A palace insider described the relationship between Harry, Meghan and the royal family as still “strained,” something shown through instances such as Harry going to London in late March to testify in court against the tabloids, but not seeing his family while there. Furthermore, reports suggested the couple were surprised and “left stunned” when they were evicted from Frogmore Cottage by Charles the same month, meaning they no longer have a high-security space to stay when in the country. 

As for where Kate Middleton and Prince William stand, the couple has kept quiet throughout, but in a new book it’s alleged that doing the public walk alongside Harry and Meghan following the Queen’s death was particularly difficult for Middleton.

In Our King by royal correspondent Robert Jobson, Jobson alleges the photo-op in September was nothing but an “illusion” of unity and that the Princess of Wales, in particular, found it uncomfortable, describing it as “one of the hardest things” she’s ever had to do.