Meghan Markle decided to skip King Charles' Coronation because it would be "inauthentic" for her to attend, an insider claims.
Prince Harry will be part of the congregation inside Westminster Abbey to witness King Charles and Queen Camilla being crowned on May 6, but his wife will be staying at home.
The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - and will celebrate her son's fourth birthday as it falls on the same day as the Coronation.
It's been reported that Harry will make a quick trip back to the UK purely for the Coronation ceremony itself, and Meghan fully supports his decision to attend.
"They had to make a decision that felt genuine and authentic, especially after everything that has been said and all the things that have gone down," an insider familiar with the family says.
"The words that Harry and Meghan have said about the importance of their family are lining up with their actions. They care about their family, so Meghan is going to stay [in California] and Harry is going to support his dad."
The decision for Harry to attend the Coronation was a lengthy process, with the duke missing the official RSVP deadline, but he realised he wanted to be their for his father.
Meghan has often been accused of 'controlling' her husband, but the insider points out that if this was true then he would be staying in America.
They add: "If she was super controlling, then she could have made sure that Harry didn’t go. She's all good, she supports Harry — they both have nothing more to prove."
Despite being the grandchildren of the new King, it is believed that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were not invited, with sources citing that they are "very young".
Friends of the Sussexes told The Telegraph Meghan considers her future to be in the US. It was also reported that her appearance at the Coronation risked "overshadowing the event".
The report also adds that Harry and Meghan were understood to be "concerned" about their reception by the British public.
One royal expert has claimed it is "highly unlikely" that Meghan will be seen at another royal event ever again.
According to author Robert Jobson, it is now hard to imagine when Meghan might come back to the UK for a royal event in the future.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "It is good news that Harry has accepted the invite and will be there to support his father.
"It is the most pragmatic move in a difficult situation and Harry has got it right. He would deeply regret it if he didn't attend the biggest day of his father's life.
"But the fact his wife is not attending means it is now highly unlikely we will ever see her attend an official or Palace event again — apart from maybe the King's funeral."
Meghan did get invited to the Coronation, but has decided to stay at home in California on Archie's fourth birthday, which was said to have caused a headache.
Royal editor Omid Scobie tweeted: "I understand that Archie's fourth birthday (also on May 6) played a factor in the couple's decision.
"Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey."
Coronation organisers will now be able to finalise all of the arrangements, including the seating plan, security and transport.
Royal sources revealed how organisers were "exasperated" with the couple, who have spent two years railing against the monarchy after they decided to leave in favour of earning millions in the corporate world.
Last week, it was revealed that he King and Queen will celebrate their coronation by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony with just the working royals.
Meghan's exclusion from the traditional balcony appearance was "more than she could bear", another royal expert has said.
The duchess may have chosen to stay away to avoid her own embarrassment, according to Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine and royal biographer.
The royal expert told The Mirror: "However pathetic when you have a team of helpers, Meghan can still use the excuse of Archie’s 4th birthday to avoid crossing the Atlantic to be ridiculed, by both the royal family and the Brits.
"Why should she bother. For a girl who makes a huge fuss about which table she has in a restaurant it would be a terrible insult not to have one of the top seats at the coronation ceremony."
