Here’s if Charles Wants Harry at His Funeral After the King Banned Meghan From Queen Elizabeth’s Deathbed
The inevitable reality of King Charles’ illness is that plans have to be made for succession. There have been conflicting reports about how sick King Charles is at various times during his illness, but the combination of that and the fact that he ascended to the throne very late in life means that plans for what happens after his death are already underway. And those plans include not just how Prince William will take the throne, but King Charles’ funeral too.
Fox News recently reported that Prince William and Prince Harry might not cross paths again until King Charles dies. “The funeral of Charles would be the first time that courtiers would imagine [them reuniting],” a source said. “I can’t imagine William would invite Harry to his coronation.” But when it comes to King Charles, things are very different according to The Telegraph.
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The outlet recently reported that the King has factored not only Prince Harry but Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, into the heart of his funeral plans. According to The Telegraph, Prince Harry is expected to walk side by side with his brother at the forefront of the processions through the streets of London.
Additionally, both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be invited to take part in the family vigil during the lying-in-state at Westminster Hall. They will also play a prominent role alongside the most senior royals during the funeral service. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are also expected to attend the service, as well as the committal at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Buckingham Palace, however, insists that the plans have not been finalized. The King is said to still be undergoing weekly cancer treatment, but at this point, he is maintaining a full work schedule.
News of the funeral plans comes after Harry was deeply upset by the fact that when his father invited him to Scotland to bid farewell to his grandmother, Meghan Markle was reportedly not invited to come along. Both of them were in the UK at the time.
Harry recounted this in his memoir, Spare, writing, “He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn’t want… her. He started to lay out his reason, which was nonsensical, and disrespectful, and I wasn’t having it.” Harry reportedly responded angrily and asked his father not to speak about his wife that way.
According to Prince Harry, the King apologized and explained that he didn’t want too many people at Balmoral, pointing out that Kate Middleton would also not be there. “He stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn’t want a lot of people around,” Prince Harry wrote. The prince had problems reaching Balmoral, as communication with the rest of the family was limited. He arranged his own travel to Scotland, but arrived too late to say goodbye.
Prince Harry only found out about his grandmother due to a message from his wife and the BBC. “It was a message from Meg: ‘Call me when you get this.’ I looked at the BBC website. My grandmother had died. My father was King,” Prince Harry recounted.
But it seems like things will be different when it comes to his father. Or, at least, King Charles is trying to make sure they are.
