Harry makes a quick getaway
Rushes to LA for birthday
Prince Harry made the lonely 11-hour flight back to Los Angeles straight after his father’s coronation, skipping lunch with the royal family to see his son Archie on his fourth birthday.
In a fleeting trip to London, his first encounter with his family since releasing his controversial book that inflamed tensions with the Windsors, the Duke of Sussex reportedly missed out on any peace talks with the King or Prince William.
The estranged brothers did not acknowledge each other during the ceremony, before Harry raced to Heathrow Airport while his relatives celebrated at Buckingham Palace and watched the military flyover from the balcony.
As a non-working royal, Harry was not invited to appear on the balcony or take part in the procession, but according to multiple reports, he was invited to join the official portrait session and an informal lunch after the ceremony.
Instead, after barely 30 hours in the UK, the Prince reportedly caught a commercial flight back to the US, where he was due to land about 10pm local time before racing home to Montecito to see Archie before midnight.
His wife Meghan Markle remained silent during the coronation, with few details
emerging about Archie’s Californian birthday party, other than a source close to the Sussexes telling People Magazine it was “a low-key party at home” including Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
Journalist Omid Scobie, who wrote a book on the Sussexes, said Archie’s birthday was not the only reason Meghan skipped the coronation to stay at home with Archie and oneyear-old Lilibet.
“I also know from friends of hers that she’s protecting her peace as well,” he said.
“She is aware of how much of the spotlight goes on her when she sets even a foot near the story.”
He added that the royal family was relieved Meghan had decided to stay home, while a source told the Telegraph that Harry had been determined to attend despite the royal split.