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King Charles’ coronation is set to take place on May 6, and although Meghan Markle will not be in attendance, she has been included in the official coronation souvenir program. The program, which went on sale on Monday, features Markle prominently in a family portrait taken in 2018.
The photo shows the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mid-laugh, along with the rest of the royal family.
The portrait includes King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and a then-baby Prince Louis.
Markle in the Family Portrait
Markle’s inclusion in the coronation program comes as a surprise, as she and Prince Harry stepped down from their senior royal roles in January 2020 and moved to California.
Despite their significant distancing from the royal family, the photo of Markle and the rest of the family is featured prominently in the program.
The program also offers a detailed history of the royal family’s lives and provides a sneak peek into coronation day.
Prince Harry will be in attendance at the coronation without his wife and children.
Buckingham Palace confirmed last week that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th, while the Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Archie will celebrate his fourth birthday the same weekend as the coronation and will reportedly spend it with his mother and sister instead of attending the multi-day celebration.
Harry and Meghan’s Relationship with the Royal Family
The inclusion of Markle in the coronation program has raised questions about the current relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the royal family.
The couple’s relationship with King Charles and the royals has remained tumultuous, and the release of their Netflix show Harry & Meghan and Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare this winter further intensified the situation.
Despite the tension, the palace has confirmed that Prince Harry will attend the coronation.
Invitations are still being finalized for the event, and the royal family posted a series of invitations being personalized to their Instagram.
Over 2,000 guests have been invited to the coronation service, and each will receive a personalized invitation hand-finished by a small team of calligraphers.
Among the guests will be over 450 British Empire Medal recipients who have been invited in recognition of the contributions made by remarkable volunteers, charity representatives, and community champions.
