Prince Harry’s hopes of mending the ongoing rift with his brother, Prince William, were shattered when he missed the royal lunch at Buckingham Palace.
Reports indicate that Prince Harry had received an invitation to join the family for lunch following the historic coronation of his father, King Charles III, at Westminster Abbey.
Many saw this as a significant gesture from King Charles, an olive branch extended in an attempt to heal their strained relationship.
However, a source close to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie’s husband, revealed that Meghan had repeatedly called Harry before he entered Westminster Abbey for Charles’ crowning, urging him to return to America promptly.
During the coronation ceremony, Prince Harry was seen seated next to Jack Brooksbank in the Abbey.
Sources have shared details of a brief conversation between Harry and Jack, leading royal watchers to speculate that the Duke may have discussed his plans to fly back to California immediately after the official conclusion of the coronation.
This urgency stemmed from Prince Archie’s fourth birthday, which fell on Saturday, prompting Harry’s desire to be present for the celebration with his son.
A lip reader claims to have caught Harry mentioning that he would be heading off around quarter to four, indicating his absence from the family lunch at Buckingham Palace.
Harry had been particularly hopeful of speaking with William during this gathering.
Throughout the coronation service, Harry appeared to gaze sadly at Prince William, while the Prince of Wales seemed unfazed.
The brothers did not engage with each other during the crowning ceremony, leaving Harry feeling isolated amidst the mess of his personal life.
It became evident that his family in the palace were not offering any support.
With the demands of the coronation and the presence of foreign dignitaries, King Charles and the Prince of Wales likely had little time to spare for Harry.
It is doubtful whether Harry even had the opportunity to exchange greetings with them, as he was seemingly ignored by the Walesers.
There was no sign of recognition or even a nod from his family, leaving Harry to realize the depth of their anger.
This cold distance between the once-close siblings, Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and William, the Prince of Wales, was both striking and saddening.
While William played an official role as the heir to the throne during Saturday’s coronation, Harry had no specific duties and found himself relegated to the third row of Westminster Abbey as a mere relative.
Following the coronation, William, Catherine, and their children embarked on an ornate carriage ride to Buckingham Palace in a grand procession.
There, they joined the newly crowned King and Queen, along with other members of the royal family, for the customary wave to the crowds from the palace balcony, while military aircraft flew overhead.
Notably absent from the balcony were Harry and his uncle, Prince Andrew.
Moreover, there appeared to be no public interaction between William and Harry during this time.