- By Matt Murphy & Andre Roden-Paul
- BBC News
WATCH: Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey
The Duke of Sussex was part of the congregation at the coronation of his father, King Charles III, at Westminster Abbey.
Prince Harry watched intently from his seat in the third row as the crown hovered above the monarch’s head.
The Duke appeared relaxed as he arrived at the Abbey and was seen chatting with his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
It is thought to be the first time he has seen his family since the release of his controversial memoir Spare.
He arrived in London on Friday but is said to return to the US after his son’s birthday party.
As he entered the abbey, dressed in morning robes and wearing medals, the prince appeared relaxed and smiled at guests as he walked through the middle of the abbey before chatting with several family members.
He patted Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mabelli Mozzi on the back with a smile on his face before taking his place next to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie’s husband, in the third row. In the third row was Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
She was second in line for the ceremony behind the King’s sister, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, the Duke of Kent.
They were preceded by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the King’s brother, the new Duke of Edinburgh – Prince Edward – and his wife Sophie.
Previously, Prince Harry sat in the second row – directly behind the monarch – at Westminster Abbey for the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth last year.
Television footage showed the prince watching closely as he raised St Edward’s crown above his father’s head before crowning him.
Later, as the congregation paid their respects to the new monarch, Prince Harry was seen joining the rest of the royal family in chanting, “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.”
Prince Harry, third row right, looks on with Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank
After landing at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday morning, the prince is said to have stayed at Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Friday night – the home where he and Meghan live, the royal asked to vacate.
His wife, the Duchess of Sussex, is staying with their children in Los Angeles, where their son Prince Archie will celebrate his fourth birthday.
“Prince Harry wants to make every effort to make it back for Archie’s birthday,” a source told US outlet Page Six.
Buckingham Palace confirmed last month that only Prince Harry would attend the ceremony.
Unlike other members of the family, he never wore clothes or a military uniform — despite serving in the military for a decade, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
image source, Good pictures
Prince Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey in a morning suit with medals
image source, Good pictures
He walked with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Meghan is staying in America
Relations between Prince Harry and other members of the family have been strained since the publication of his memoir.
The book clearly revealed the fallout and disagreements with relatives, and that he feels “different” from the rest of his family.
Meghan’s decision to decline the invitation was widely seen as part of these ongoing, unresolved family tensions.
Last month, it was revealed the monarch was trying to block legal action against newspapers for hacking Prince Harry’s phone.
In a witness statement revealed by court documents, Prince Harry was “summoned to Buckingham Palace” and told to drop the cases because of the impact on the family.
