Family affair! Prince William and Princess Kate brought their three children to a Wednesday, May 3, rehearsal for King Charles III‘s coronation.
Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, were all photographed arriving at Westminster Abbey with their parents for a practice session ahead of the Saturday, May 6, event. In one snap, Louis could be seen riding alongside his father, 40, as the family arrived at the church on Wednesday morning. In another photograph, Charlotte entered the church ahead of her mother, 41.
Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla were also on hand for the run-through, which took place after an elaborate dress rehearsal that happened overnight in London. Hundreds of soldiers dressed in uniform paraded from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on foot and on horseback, following the path of the Gold State Coach that will carry the king and Camilla, 75, in the procession.
While it wasn’t immediately clear whether William and Kate’s children would have roles in the ceremony, Kensington Palace later confirmed that George will serve as a Page of Honor for his grandfather. He and his siblings will also be part of the coronation procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the church ceremony.
The Prince of Wales, meanwhile, will present his father with the Stole Royal and the Robe Royal, which are meant to represent “what The King, as Sovereign, has been given by God,” per Westminster Abbey’s website.
William’s presentation of the items will come after Charles’ oath and anointing but before he is given the Sceptre and Rod and crowned with St Edward’s Crown.
While William’s brother, Prince Harry, will be in attendance at the event, the Duke of Sussex, 38, has no official role in the ceremony. Some observers have described Harry’s lack of participation in the event as a “snub,” but royal expert Gareth Russell doesn’t think it’s “surprising” that the family declined to involve him in the ceremony.
“It’s probably for the best not to complicate matters further by having him involved in some sort of working royal capacity,” the Ship of Dreams author exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 2, adding that involving Harry would only further “complicate” the prince’s status within the family. “The royals are hoping that they can draw a line under the recent controversy with the Duke of Sussex.”
The BetterUp CIO and wife Meghan Markle announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals, making their final official appearance two months later. The duo — who share son Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 22 months — have since returned to the U.K. a handful of times, but tension has remained high with the royal family following the release of their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, and Harry’s memoir, Spare.
Last month, royal expert Nick Bullen told Us that Harry and his brother are still not on speaking terms following the publication of the book. “[It’s] absolutely radio silence,” the True Royalty TV editor-in-chief said in April. “It’s a very big void.”
While Harry attends the coronation, Meghan, 41, will be staying home in California to celebrate Archie’s 4th birthday, which falls on Saturday. “As much as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldn’t miss her son’s birthday for the world,” an insider exclusively told Us in April. “Despite being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan is a mom first.”
Bullen noted last month that Harry plans to “minimize the amount of time” he’s away for the coronation. “He’s already said that he wants to be back for Archie’s birthday that afternoon, that evening,” the journalist told Us in April. “So, it will be very much a flying visit.”
Keep scrolling for more photos from the coronation rehearsal:
