Royal Family Had ‘Hope’ Prince Harry Would Stay in London After Coronation, Expert Says: ‘There Was a Sadness’

usmagazine.com:

Missing an olive branch? Prince Harry swiftly left London after dad King Charles III‘s coronation, but the royal family was optimistic that he might stick around.“I heard from somebody who was actually involved on the day that up until the morning [of the ceremony], nobody really knew what Harry’s plans were going to be for that afternoon,” royal expert Nick Bullen exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 9, noting that it was widely known that Harry, 38, wanted to return to California for son Archie’s 4th birthday, which coincided with the Saturday, May 6, coronation.The True Royalty TV editor-in-chief continued: “I think everybody knew he had a plane to catch. … But there was a hope, I think, that he might be part of some of the family celebrations back at the palace.”Bullen predicted that there was likely “a sadness” among Charles, 74, and other royals that Harry “wasn’t part of the fuller day” despite the family’s ups and downs. “But they all knew he was gonna get [on] that plane,” he told Us.Us confirmed in April that the Duke of Sussex would be traveling solo for his father’s big day.

Meghan Markle, meanwhile, skipped the royal event to stay home with Archie and daughter Lilibet, 23 months.“As much as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldn’t miss her son’s birthday for the world,” a source exclusively revealed last month, noting that the Suits alum, 41, felt “very grateful to be included in such a special occasion.”The Spare author touched down in the U.K.

on Friday, May 5. He arrived at Westminster Abbey on Saturday wearing a morning suit (rather than his military uniform) and took his seat in the third row.