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'Not what the British people want': Opposition grows towards Harry and Meghan attending King's coronation

By Natalie Oliveri|

M?ore and more Brits are opposing Prince Harry and Meghan's attendance at the coronation after the royal couple's repeated attacks on the monarchy.

It's feared the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could turn the solemn and historic ceremony into a reality-show drama following complaints in Harry's book Spare and the couple's Netflix docu-series.

While there's been no official confirmation on whether Harry and Meghan have been invited, or if they will actually travel to the UK for the event, it's believed King Charles does want his youngest son to share in his special day.

READ MORE: Camilla walks in late Queen's footsteps as Kate visits school

Prince Harry and Meghan pictured at an event during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. (Getty)

But the monarch is risking major damage to his reign if he does extend an invitation to the Montecito-based couple, it has been claimed.

British columnist for The Telegraph UK ?Allison Pearson believes the King most "choose wisely".

"There is a real worry that we will think a lot less of our new monarch should he be seen to capitulate to an ungrateful couple who have insulted both our country and the institution Charles now embodies," Pearson writes.

She points to the "excruciating awkwardness" of the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020, which marked Harry and Meghan's final engagement as working royals, when "the extended clan was looking daggers at them".

"Things are a hundred times more acrimonious now," Pearson says.

"There is a real worry that we will think a lot less of our new monarch should he be seen to capitulate to an ungrateful couple." (AP)

"Is that really what our King wants at his Coronation? I bet it's not what a smarting Prince and Princess of Wales want. It's certainly not what the British people want.?"

She adds: "On no account do we want to see him and Madam made welcome on a landmark date in our country's history.

"The idea is repellent. I'd certainly be among the thousands booing them if they had the nerve to show up."

Pearson believes there is no need for Harry and Meghan to be at the coronation because the May 6 event "is a state occasion, not a family outing".

"Charles should be more worried about the feelings of the British people than he appears to be. Most of us think that the Sussexes have behaved appallingly.?"

The damage Harry and Meghan have done to the UK's reputation in the US was "incalculable", she says.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speak onstage at the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala at New York Hilton on December 06, 2022 in New York City
There's been no official confirmation as to whether Harry and Meghan will be invited to the coronation. (Getty Images for?2022 Robert F.)

That sentiment was echoed by a number of readers of another British newspaper The Times in its Letters to the Editor section.

"You would think every perceived slight will be deemed racist, every conversation misconstrued and every public appearance be used to boost sales of their books/series/interviews," James Noble wrote.

"If they are to be invited, the first condition should be that they are recorded in every conversation with any third party. They should have to use transport provided to prevent them going off elsewhere."

While Barry Smith said: "Prince Harry claims to have killed 25 Taliban fighters. That renders him จC and anyone near him จC vulnerable to retaliation. Common sense dictates that his attendance at well-advertised public events should be ruled out on security grounds".

Harry and Meghan departing the Commonwealth Day service.
Harry and Meghan departing the Commonwealth Day service. (Getty)

James Morgan said: "I hope the Prince of Wales's counsel prevails and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are kept as far away from the coronation as possible. One would go further, and hope the King strips the pair of their titles so they can live the quiet, private life they both allegedly crave."

Their comments come after a recent opinion poll in the UK found Harry's popularity had dropped to a new record low, sitting underneath Prince Andrew for the first time.?

The YouGov survey found just 24 per cent of people have a positive view of Prince Harry compared with 68 per cent who are critical.

In the 65s category, 60 per cent had a "very" negative view of Prince Andrew but that rose to 69 per for Meghan and 73 per cent for Harry.?

Despite the figures, Harry's book has been a massive hit.

Spare has become the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998.

A staggering 467,183 copies were sold in its first week, according to official figures from Nielsen BookData?.

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