After months of uncertainty, the world learned about Prince Harry this week Desire Will attend the coronation of King Charles on 6 May.
Palace officials were reportedly concerned that Harry would skip the ceremony, and that the prince’s absence would overshadow the king’s big day.
And it looks like this week’s news was a win for the royals in more ways than one.
Because in addition to announcing Harry’s presence, the Sussexes also confirmed Meghan Markle will be staying at home.
It simplifies matters for everyone involved, but it seems no one is more incensed by Meg’s absence than Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Will and Kate do, according to royal expert Eloise Parker No want to be the center of attention, and Meghan’s decision to sit it out means there is “less emphasis on who is looking where, who is reading lips, [and] what is going on between them.
“There’s such a fever of interest in these relationships, and the truth is, we may never see a ‘Real Housewives’ moment between these ladies,” Parker told Page Six this week.
“Everything is being kept tightly under wraps and I think for Kate, the fact that Meghan is not attending helps to keep it that way.”
It’s a win-win, as Meghan won’t have to worry about conflict with Will and Kate, but Harry will still get to play the role of big man for his father’s big day despite recent tensions.
A source close to the Sussexes says Harry’s decision to attend the coronation was largely the result of optics – he simply realized how bad it would feel if he wasn’t there.
The insider says, “After everything that has been said and everything that has gone down, the words that Harry and Meghan have said about the importance of their family are leading up to their actions.”
In a sense, the couple gets to have their cake and eat it too:
Harry’s appearance will be seen as a friendly gesture, while Meghan’s fans will applaud her decision to stay home in a subtle protest against the abuse she has faced at the hands of the royals.
Of course, at the end of the day, the focus will primarily be on Charles at the time of the coronation.
The concern among the royals was largely the result of their concern that the king would be overshadowed by the Sussexes.
Hopefully, Chuck appreciates the lengths that Harry and Meghan went to to make sure that didn’t happen.