Harry goes solo, and why it's not always about you
Finally, a decision from Montecito, and the latest royal work statistics
Prince Harry will go solo to his father’s coronation while his wife and children stay in the United States.
That news broke on April 12 when both Buckingham Palace and Archewell (the site for the Sussex commercial / non-profit endeavours) released statements.
And that’s when things got a bit petty, which is saying something as this decision had been pending for a good long while — to be precise, it came 38 days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that they were in “email correspondence with His Majesty’s office” regarding the coronation, and eight days after the April 4 deadline to RSVP for the coronation.
Consider the wording of the statements:
ARCHEWELL: "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."
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."
Notice that the one from Montecito, CA, lacks the “pleased to confirm” wording included in the Buckingham Palace statement.
Prince Harry says he believes in the monarchy and “will always love” his father, even though they aren’t talking to each other. Surely a son could say he was “pleased” to attend the defining event of his father’s reign? He didn’t have to say he was “overjoyed” or “thrilled” to attend; even “happy” would have sufficed.
It’s about politeness and civility, especially within a family. If a family event is looming and you have a turbulent relationship with one or several of the principles, then you have two choices:
a) RSVP your regrets and stay out of the spotlight. It isn’t your day, it’s their day.
b) If you do attend, then act appropriately at all times, and that means being courteous and respectful. Forgot the muttered comments to cousins or scowls that could dampen the big day of a loved relation; be as much of a wallflower as is possible.
By omitting even the mildest of adjectives to the already bare-bones statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seem to emphasize Harry’s lack of enthusiasm, rather than his attendance.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU, part 1
British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful wrote the short profile of King Charles III for Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023 issue. He started by acknowledging that he didn’t pay attention to the world of royalty while growing up on a council estate in London. Then, he wrote:
As the quiet and fastidious work of the Prince’s Trust, a charity set up by the then Prince of Wales, began to put our friends and family into steady employment, its outreach programs inspired many of us and instilled confidence. I didn’t realize then just how close our now King was to all of this.
He didn’t have to do any of it. He could’ve let his privilege shield him from the realities of our hardship in a time when these were not a cause célèbre. But he always met us with an open mind and a listening ear.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU, part 2
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and his wife, Valerie, will stay at Clarence House, home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the night before the coronation so they can walk to nearby Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6, and thus not break the sabbath restriction on taking transportation.
That decision was announced in late October 2022, and follows another religious scheduling change made by Charles. In the previous month, the King had pushed forward a reception with faith leaders, which was held in advance of the Queen’s funeral, so that the Chief Rabbi could get to his synagogue before Shabbat, the Telegraph explained.
(I was reminded of the overnight invitation while looking into the religious aspects of the ceremony.)
THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CORONATION
The April 13 edition of Pod Save The King by the Daily Mirror focuses on the Crown, the Church of England and the coronation. It’s not long — 33 minutes — and is a really good dive into the religious aspects of the upcoming coronation. Importantly, Bishop Tomlin is skilled at explaining Anglican history and doctrine without getting too wonky for secular listeners.
From the episode’s blurb:
The Rt. Rev’d Dr Graham Tomlin, former Bishop of Kensington and now running the Church of England’s Centre for Cultural Witness programme, joins Pod Save The King host Ann Gripper to explore the relationship between the royal family and the church.
They also reflect on the religious significance of the coronation, its regalia and the impact of the change in Sovereign on the Church.
BY THE NUMBERS
No big changes when it comes to the top of the royal work list for the first quarter of 2023. Princess Anne has a sizable lead over her older brother, King Charles III in terms of the number of engagements as well as the number of days worked. Last year, Anne was also leading her brother by March 31, but he did more engagements in the last nine months of the year to easily surpass her by the end of 2022.
MORE ANALYSIS BEYOND THE PAYWALL
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