- By Matt Murphy and Andre Rhoden-Paul
- BBC News
WATCH: Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey
The Duke of Sussex was part of the congregation as his father King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Prince Harry watched intently from his seat in the third row as he held the crown above the King’s head.
The duke looked 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 publication of his controversial memoir, Spare.
After the ceremony Prince Harry was seen getting into a car alone.
It is not known whether she was heading to Buckingham Palace or an airport, as she reportedly plans to return to the US to celebrate her son’s birthday.
Her uncle Prince Andrew left in a car, with Princess Eugenie and her husband.
Earlier, when Prince Harry entered the abbey, dressed in a morning suit and wearing medals, he appeared relaxed and was seen smiling at visitors as he walked through the abbey’s nave, before chatting with some family members .
He patted Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli 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. Also in the third row is the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
She watched the ceremony behind the King’s sister Princess Anne and the Duke of Kent, Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, who wore a Garter robe in the second row.
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.
Prince Harry previously sat in the second row – right behind the King – at Westminster Abbey for the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last year.
The prince was seen on television footage watching intently as the archbishop raised St Edward’s Crown above his father’s head during the Coronation.
Later, as the congregation paid tribute to the new monarch, Prince Harry was seen with other royals saying the words: “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. Long live the King forever. ”
Prince Harry, third row back right, watches with Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank
After landing at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday morning, the prince reportedly stayed at Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle – the residence he and Meghan were asked to vacate by the King.
His wife, the Duchess of Sussex, stayed in Los Angeles with their children, where their son Prince Archie will celebrate his fourth birthday.
A source told US outlet Page Six that Prince Harry intends to make “every effort to be back in time for Archie’s birthday”.
Last month, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry would attend the ceremony alone.
Unlike other members of the family, Prince Harry never wore military clothes or uniform – despite the fact that he served in the army for a decade, including two tours in Afghanistan.
image source, Getty Images
Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey wearing a morning suit with medals
image source, Getty Images
He entered alongside Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Meghan remains in the US
Relations between Prince Harry and the rest of the family have been strained since the publication of his memoir.
The book clearly revealed disagreements and disagreements among relatives, and since then he has spoken about feeling “different” from the rest of his family.
The decision for Meghan to decline the invitation was widely seen as part of ongoing, unresolved family tensions.
And last month it was revealed that the King had tried to prevent Prince Harry from taking legal action against newspapers over alleged phone hacking.
In a witness statement released by court papers, Prince Harry said he was “summoned to Buckingham Palace” and told to drop the charges because of the impact on the family.
