Following the coronation of King Charles III, a controversy continues to stir debate in the UK: Meghan Markle’s decision not to include her children, Archie and Lilibet, in the historic event.
While the Duchess of Sussex remained in California with the children, Prince Harry attended the ceremony alone. Now, royal experts say this decision may come back to haunt Meghan—particularly in the eyes of her children.
Royal commentator and author Tom Quinn reignited the conversation in a recent interview with the British press, calling the absence of Archie and Lilibet “one of Meghan’s biggest mistakes.”
According to Quinn, the children may one day question why they were excluded from such a significant milestone in their family’s history. “They could ask why they weren’t at least symbolically involved in such a solemn and historic moment,” he said.
A controversial choice
At the time, Meghan justified the decision by citing concerns over safety, the children’s well-being, and the strained atmosphere between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
But Quinn believes this choice could carry emotional consequences down the line. “Children can hold grudges, especially when they learn their family story includes unexplained gaps or decisions they didn’t understand. Meghan may face difficult questions in a few years,” he noted.
Meghan and Harry have consistently said they want to shield their children from the pressures of royal life and media attention. But in this instance, some observers argue that keeping them away might eventually feel, to Archie and Lilibet, like an exclusion or even a rupture from their royal heritage.
A parental dilemma
The controversy highlights a dilemma many parents can relate to: protecting their children from potentially toxic environments, or allowing them to be part of defining moments in their personal and family history.
Meghan chose protection—a decision applauded by some, yet still dividing opinion.
As the children grow up surrounded by photos, video footage, and stories of that historic day—May 6, 2023—it wouldn’t be surprising if, one day, Archie or Lilibet ask: “Why weren’t we at Grandpa’s coronation?”