A chorus of respected former British politicians, military figures and historians have shared a message for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Don’t attend King Charles’ coronation next year.
The couple’s explosive Netflix documentary released on Thursday should be the final straw marking the end of their relationship with the royal family, several prominent UK figures told the Daily Mail on Friday.
Former cabinet minister and Tory veteran David Mellor said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “categorically should not come” to Westminster Abbey when Charles is crowned on May 6.
“They make money by selling their family down the river. I think it should be clear that the British don’t want them there,” Mellor said.
The former cabinet minister added that the British “would have every right to bang if the pair turned up. They are a sad pair, and there is no hope for them on their present course.’
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith questioned why the couple would even be interested in attending the coronation “if they don’t like the royal family so much”.
Author and historian Lady Antonia Fraser said she hoped former royals would stay away so as not to draw attention away from King Charles and Camilla, the Queen’s wife.
“My concern is that if they come, the cameras might waste time on them. They should hold hands in Hollywood,” Fraser said.
The devastating criticism comes days after the first three episodes of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary dropped and attracted thousands of viewers.
The couple made several accusations against the royal family, including that they had an “unconscious bias” around Markle’s race and that King Charles did not care enough for Harry after Diana’s death.
Harry also seemed to touch on the fact that Prince William didn’t marry Princess Kate for love, but because she fit in well with the royal image.
Dai Davies, the former head of royal protection, said the couple’s allegations could pose a security risk to the royal family, which has historically kept personal matters close to the chest.
“We don’t know what poison will come out next, but considering what has been said, whether it’s a half-truth, a lie or a mockery of the royal family, how can anyone want to be invited to a coronation?” Davies said.
“The presentation of the monarchy and the Commonwealth as racist is an insult to Britain and the British people,” he said. “The false narrative presented in this series could lead to people with a fixation on the royal family acting out their fantasies.”
According to prominent historian Lord Andrew Roberts, members of the royal family have not been invited to coronations in the past, which made it easier for the royal family to exclude Harry and Meghan, who voluntarily left the family in 2020.
“Queen Caroline was not invited to the Coronation of George IV, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were not to George VI. in 1937 and the German relations of Elizabeth II. they weren’t invited in 1953, so there’s a lot of precedent for not inviting people who would be a distraction and a distraction from the focus of the big day,” he said.
It’s unclear whether Harry and Meghan will be welcomed to the coronation or any future royal event, Tom Bower told Page Six. The couple may not even be welcome in the UK after the Netflix series.
Chris Parry, a retired rear admiral, believes the couple have “lost their rights to be part of the royal family”.
“Frankly, they’ve proven to be unreliable when it comes to recording things and reporting them,” he added. “The coronation is another red carpet event for them – and they’ll probably walk the walk and talk the talk. They are not commensurate with the dignity and importance of the occasion.’
Tory MP Bob Seely said: “If I were them I’d stay away – but they obviously want to participate and then cash in.”
