Scotland is gearing up for a grand coronation-style Thanksgiving service in Edinburgh to commemorate King Charles's accession to the throne. However, only one of the monarch's sons will be present at this momentous occasion.
The royal parade, scheduled for Wednesday, is expected to feature the Prince and Princess of Wales, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. Prince Charles and Camilla will be engaging in various engagements throughout Scotland during Royal week, including the ceremony at St. Charles's Cathedral.
It is speculated that Prince Harry will not be attending the symbolic July 5th honors of Scotland service, which officially celebrates his father's role as the Head of State in Scotland. In May, Prince Harry attended the coronation without his wife Meghan Markle, flying in for a mere 24 hours to witness his father's crowning at Westminster Abbey before returning to his home in Montecito, California.
The likely absence of Prince Harry from the upcoming service indicates that relations between father and son remain strained.
The forthcoming ceremony will involve a people's procession, with around a hundred community groups collecting honors from Edinburgh Castle. The procession will be escorted to the cathedral by the Royal Regiment of Scotland, accompanied by their Shetland pony mascot Corporal Cruachan IV and supported by cadet musicians from the combined Cadet Force pipes and drums.
Simultaneously, a royal procession will travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral, with the public lining the Royal Mile to witness both processions. The service will conclude with a 21-gun salute fired from Edinburgh Castle, after which the royal procession will return to the palace.
According to royal expert Daniela Elser, the already strained relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry further deteriorated following the release of Harry's bombshell memoir. Elser noted that any hopes of reconciliation between father and son seem bleak, especially after Harry's scathing remarks about Camilla in the memoir.
The expert also highlighted the lack of trust and the potential for personal revelations to become fodder for future books, indicating the challenges in maintaining an open and honest relationship within the family.
In recent news, the Sussexes have reportedly packed up and moved out of Frogmore, three months after King Charles reportedly gave them their marching orders. The developments suggest that Buckingham Palace is moving forward, and journalist John Moir suggests that the wheels may be coming off the Sussexes' narrative after three years of criticizing privilege and the monarchy.
As the monarchy prepares for its future, there are signs that the Sussexes themselves may face challenges in maintaining stability, particularly if the current dynamics persist.
