Prince Harry was 'not invited' to appear on Buckingham Palace balcony after coronation
Sky News understands the Duke of Sussex, who had no formal role at the event, left Westminster Abbey swiftly following his father's coronation on Saturday, in an effort to catch a flight back to his home in Los Angeles for his son's birthday celebrations.
Tuesday 9 May 2023 07:03, UK
Prince Harry was not invited to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after his father was crowned, Sky News understands.
On Saturday, the palace confirmed that he would have "no formal role" at the King's coronation.
The prince's representatives are understood to be at pains today to spell out exactly what that means - he was not invited to be on the balcony with working members of the Royal Family.
However, the Queen's sister and lady in attendance, who are also not working royals, were on the balcony for the historic moment.
The Duke of Sussex left Westminster Abbey swiftly after the coronation ceremony to catch a flight back to Los Angeles.
His son, Prince Archie, turned four on Saturday, and spent the day with his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, at their US home.
Read more:
The best of Windsor's coronation concert
'This is boring': King caught on camera before coronation
Tom Cruise delivers special mid-air message to King
Queen Elizabeth II 'would be proud mother'
British Airways flight attendants confirmed to the PA news agency that Prince Harry had been on the flight but said they were not permitted to discuss the details of his trip.
Harry's appearance at the coronation was his first in public alongside the royals since he made claims about his family in his controversial memoir Spare.
He was seated in the third row for the crowning of the King alongside Prince Andrew, who stepped away from public life after a disastrous Newsnight interview in November 2019 in which he discussed his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Harry and Andrew sat two rows behind Prince William.
Harry chatted to his cousin Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi as he entered the Abbey on Saturday in the drizzling UK rain.
He also nodded and smiled to guests as he processed behind them, walking down the nave of the Abbey alone.