Coronation 2.0! Prince Harry will miss out as his father is made Scotland’s Head of State in Edinburgh next week – while William and Kate get a starring role
Scotland will celebrate King Charles ascension to the throne with a Coronation-style ‘Thanksgiving service’ in Edinburgh next week – but only one of the monarch’s sons will be there to witness the historic event.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who have the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay north of the border, are expected to join the king and queen in a regal procession through the city on Wednesday.
The ceremony, at St Giles’ Cathedral, is a key part of Royal Week, with Charles and Camilla undertaking several engagements in Scotland.
Prince Harry is not thought to be attending the symbolic July 5th Honours of Scotland service to officially mark his father becoming Head of State in Scotland.
The Duke of Sussex attended the Coronation on May 6th without wife Meghan Markle and flew in for just 24 hours to see his father crowned at Westminster Abbey, before jetting back to his home in Montecito, California.
King Charles and Queen Camilla on Charles’ Coronation day on May 6th this year; the king will take part in the Honours of Scotland service in Edinburgh on July 5th
Prince Harry’s likely absence from the service shows relations between father and son remain less than warm.
This week, Buckingham Palace revaled that Harry and Meghan Markle have finally vacated Frogmore Cottage.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to move any remaining possessions out of their Grade II-listed five-bedroom cottage close to Windsor Castle in January.
Next week’s ceremony involves a people’s procession of about 100 community groups collecting the honours from Edinburgh Castle.
The procession will then be escorted to the cathedral by the Royal Regiment of Scotland and its Shetland pony mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV, supported by cadet musicians from the combined cadet force pipes and drums.
Meanwhile, a royal procession will travel from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the cathedral, with the public lining the Royal Mile to view both processions.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as the Prince and Princess of Wales are known in Scotland, will attend the service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland
Prince Harry, who jetted in and out of the Coronation on May 6th in just 24 hours is not thought to be attending the ceremony
A 21-gun salute will fire from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the St Giles’ service, before the royal procession travels back to the palace.
The Stone of Destiny will be in the cathedral during the ceremony, and there will also be a fly-past by the Red Arrows following the event.
Five new pieces of music will be heard to mark the coronation of the King and Queen.
The pieces, including one composed in Gaelic, were commissioned by Charles for the national service of thanksgiving and dedication at St Giles’ Cathedral on Wednesday.
The new music will form part of what is described by Buckingham Palace as a rich mix at the service to reflect Scottish history and culture, with performers representative of contemporary Scotland.
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