Prince William and Harry's Relationship at "All-Time Low" Over Coronation, According to New Reports

The will-they-or-won't-they dance over Prince Harry and Meghan's attendance at King Charles's coronation has been settled with a compromise of sorts: On Wednesday, it was announced that Harry would attend the May 6 event, but Meghan would remain at their California home. In the weeks leading up to the announcement, the unresolved situation made an already tense relationship between Harry and his father and brother even worse—so much that a report from the Daily Beast described their relations as at an all-time low. Read on to find out more.

Harry Had Requested Meeting and Apology, According to Reports

In January, Harry told an interviewer that he needed to meet face-to-face with his father and brother before attending the coronation. He went further in another interview, saying he wanted "an apology for my wife" from the Palace, although not specifically referring to the coronation. Various media sources, including the Daily Beast and the Daily Mail, report that royal sources have insisted that the family will make no apologies to Harry and Meghan, believing they have nothing to apologize for.

"Relations Have Never Been This Bad," Insider Claims

The standoff likely contributed to Harry and Meghan's long silence over attending the coronation. The interregnum reportedly frustrated Prince William. "William is baffled by Harry not publicly saying that he is coming to the coronation, especially because everyone thinks he will be there. Relations have never been this bad and it feels like Harry is just stringing it out to try and be difficult, frankly," a friend of William's told the Daily Beast.

Late Last Week, Plans Were Still "Up In the Air"

Last Thursday, palace staff were still "none the wiser" about Harry and Meghan's attendance, the Daily Mail reported. "Everything is still up in the air and there's only a month to go," one source said. "All people have been told is that 'it should hopefully be resolved soon.' But in the meantime the teams are trying to finalize plans for 2,000 guests, many of whom are international heads of state and VIPs. It's a headache."

The outlet reported that President Biden's announcement that he would not attend may have spurred Harry and Meghan to action. A friend of the king told the outlet he was "working on the assumption that Harry and Meghan will come," have not heard otherwise.

Delay Caused "Massive Headaches"

On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace released a statement, saying it was "pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."

British news outlets noted that it came nine days after the official cut-off for RSVPs. As the date came and went, an insider told the Mirror that "It's all very frantic, complete chaos to be frank. There is a plan, which is supposed to be the blueprint of how the day should operate, but things are changing daily which is causing massive headaches."

New Revelations About Charles and Meghan

During the coronation ceremony and events, all eyes will no doubt be on the body language between Harry, King Charles, and Prince William. Even before the coronation controversy, the relationship among the three was described as extremely strained because of the revelations in Harry's memoir Spare.

And fresh reports about the fraying family ties seem to come daily. This week, the new book Our King: Charles III — The Man And The Monarch Revealed contends that when Harry told his father and brother about his intent to marry Meghan Markle, he received a less-than-enthusiastic response. "Are you sure, Harold?" Prince William reportedly said.  Harry was then "infuriated" when Charles told him that he couldn't afford to pay for Meghan in the future as well as for Camilla and Prince William and his young family, the book says.