King Charles III's coronation is near, and the upcoming ceremony's souvenir program hits the newsstands Monday, April 17. Surprisingly, it features Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the rest of the royal family, and royal experts see it as a sign of reconciliation.
Rumors have it that King Charles wants to reconcile with Prince Harry and Meghan despite everything the couple has said in their interviews, docuseries, and the Duke of Sussex's memoir, Spare.
King Charles' Crowning's Souvenir Program
The 84-page pamphlet features His Majesty's 70th birthday portraits. In one of the snaps, the Sussexes can be seen smiling alongside the monarch, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and the Wales' three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The photo was released by Clarence House in 2018, per E! News. Hence, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet weren't born yet, explaining their non-attendance in the picture.
Royal photographer Chris Jackson, who captured the said portrait, posted it on Instagram Tuesday, April 18, and recalled the fun moment he took it.
"Nice to see this picture I took in 2018 in the Official Coronation Programme - Had such fun taking it," he captioned his post.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Addition to Coronation Souvenir Program Seen as an Olive Branch
Meanwhile, royal experts saw Prince Harry and Meghan's addition to the coronation souvenir program as an olive branch from King Charles, per Express.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the military vet would attend his father's coronation.
However, his wife has to stay in California to be with her kids as Prince Archie will also celebrate his fourth birthday on that day.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier saw the picture as an effort to show Meghan and Harry are still part of the royal family.
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"Using the picture including Harry and Meghan is yet another olive branch from the King and an attempt to show they are still loved members of the family," he explained.
"We know, of course, that relations were already starting to strain but it's a happy picture which conveys harmony and unity," he added. "Most of all, it reminds us of what might have been and how it's so sad the way things have unfolded."
Biographer Tom Bower, conversely, said adding that image was an attempt to "hide the truth" about how Prince Harry and Meghan's departure tore the royal family apart.
In addition, Richard Fitzwilliams claimed it was used to "avoid being accused of leaving the couple out" as the two were "deeply conscious of what they perceive to be slights."
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