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How King Charles has prepared Prince William and Prince Harry ahead of coronation

The royal brothers grew up in the spotlight

Phoebe Tatham
Content Writer
March 29, 2023
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King Charles III is due to be crowned alongside his wife Queen Consort Camilla in a spectacular joint coronation ceremony on 6 May. We can expect to see the royal family out in full force, with the likes of the Prince of Wales and Princess Kate stepping into the spotlight.

During the modernised ceremony, royal fans will be delighted to see Prince William kneel down to "pay homage" to his father. According to The Sunday Times, Charles has scrapped the act of the royal dukes kneeling to "pay homage" before touching the crown and kissing the monarch's right cheek, with only William being the one to perform the ancient tradition.

Charles with Prince William and Prince Harry© Getty
Charles with Prince William and Prince Harry

But there's still one question lingering on the lips of royal fans far and wide. Will Prince Harry jet over from Montecito for his father's big day? Whilst the father-of-two has yet to officially confirm his attendance, we know for certain that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle received save-the-date invites from the King earlier this month.

At the time, a spokesperson said: "I can confirm the Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty's office regarding the coronation… An immediate decision on whether the Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time."

Prince William and Prince Harry as youngsters© Getty
The royal brothers as youngsters

As we eagerly anticipate a royal family reunion, the team at HELLO! is taking a deep dive into Prince Harry and Prince William's former engagements under the wing of their father, Charles. From their numerous appearances at Trooping the Colour to their dapper presence at Charles and Camilla's 2005 wedding ceremony, the once-inseparable royal brothers are well-equipped when it comes to public royal events.

MORE:  Prince Harry admits he has 'cut off' friends after making surprise return to the UK

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Keep scrolling to discover their most notable moments in the limelight…

Trooping the Colour

Prince William and Prince Harry were both very young when they made their Trooping the Colour debuts. Aged just two-years-old, William joined his family on the royal balcony for the first time in 1984. Prince Harry, meanwhile, was less than a year old at his first Trooping the Colour in 1985.

Prince Harry and Prince William at Trooping the Colour in 1985© Getty
Prince Harry and Prince William at Trooping the Colour in 1985

Despite their tender age, the sibling duo charmed crowds with their impeccable manners and adorable outfits. Who remembers Prince William's mini sailor suit? We certainly do.

Charles and Camilla's wedding

In 2005 Prince Harry and Prince William donned their finest threads for the then-Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's wedding ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, Berkshire. The brothers joined Camilla's two children Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles, with Prince William and Tom performing the role of witness.

Charles and Camilla wed in 2005© Getty
Charles and Camilla wed in 2005

In his memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex shared a very candid insight into his father's big day, revealing how he wanted them both to be happy after "years of thwarted longing."

EXCLUSIVE: Why King Charles is being very strict with the coronation guest list

"I knew without question that this marriage would take Pa away from us… I didn't relish losing a second parent, and I had complex feelings about gaining a step-parent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar," Harry explained.

He concluded: "I was surprised to discover at their wedding that one of the things I wanted most, still, was for my father to be happy."

Prince William and Princess Kate's wedding day

While Prince Harry and Prince William may have drifted apart in recent years, the duo were once joined at the hip. Back in early 2018, William shared (via ABC News) that his and Harry's relationship was "closer than it's been" in light of their shared experiences.

Prince William and Kate wed in 2011© Getty
Prince William and Kate wed in 2011

He continued: "Losing our mother at a young age it's helped us travel through that difficult patch together. You're like-minded. You go through similar things, it's a bond and it's something you know you've tackled together and come out better for it."

In 2011, Prince Harry walked his nervous brother to the altar on his wedding day and reportedly even delivered a heartfelt speech during the reception at Buckingham Palace.

The duo wed in front of 1,900 guests© Getty
The duo wed in front of 1,900 guests

Alongside funny anecdotes from his childhood with William, Harry shared extracts from letters of support sent by the public – and he took the opportunity to pass on a cheeky gift to the Princess of Wales.

Prince Harry and Prince William at the Duke of Sussex's wedding© Getty
Prince Harry and Prince William at the Duke of Sussex's wedding

In 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in a fairytale wedding. The sibling duo donned their military uniforms for the special occasion, with Prince William helping to allay any pre-wedding jitters outside the venue.

Her Majesty's Jubilee celebrations

Prince Harry and Prince William charmed crowds at the late Queen Elizabeth II's Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees, in 2002, 2012, and 2022 respectively. For their grandmother's Golden Jubilee celebrations, William and Harry flanked their father's side and delighted royal well-wishers with their boyish grins and impeccable manners.

 The royals at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant © Getty
The royals at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant

During Her Majesty's 2012 Diamond Jubilee, Harry and William took part in the extravagant Thames River Pageant alongside the late Queen, her late husband, Prince Philip, Duchess Camilla, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cambridge.

MORE: How Queen Consort Camilla has prepared her children for King Charles' coronation

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In 2022, meanwhile, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle made their first public appearance at a royal event since stepping down as senior royals. The Sussexes attended Trooping the Colour in addition to Friday's service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral.

Meghan and Harry at the service of thanksgiving© Getty
Meghan and Harry at the service of thanksgiving

Despite the public scrutiny, the couple put on a defiant display as they stepped into the limelight.

The late Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral

Following the sad death of our late monarch, Prince Harry and William put their differences aside as they joined the Firm at Her Majesty's state funeral. In a display of family unity, the duo put on a brave face and joined their father in procession behind the Queen's coffin as it made its way to Westminster Hall.

The royal brothers walking side by side© Getty
The royal brothers walking side by side

Harry, William and Charles were later united in grief as they arrived in Westminster Hall for the Queen's emotional funeral service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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