Buckingham Palace honours senior peer behind Coronation, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral plans

King Charles ‘snubbed’ Prince Harry to reward senior peer who masterminded his Coronation

The Duke of Sussex returned to the UK for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Claims suggest that King Charles “snubbed” Prince Harry in favour of rewarding a senior peer who orchestrated his Coronation and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral plans.

Prince Harry made a brief visit to London earlier this month to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, King Charles and Prince William did not have a meeting with him during his stay. Instead, the monarch and Queen Camilla were attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace, which coincided with Harry’s service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Another engagement that prevented the monarch from meeting his son was the reward ceremony for the senior peer responsible for his Coronation and the late Queen’s funeral arrangements.

Eyebrows were raised when the Duke of Norfolk was seemingly overlooked in the New Year Honours, given his pivotal role in making both occasions such successes.

But on May 7, at a private meeting in Buckingham Palace, the King presented him with a silver gilt Coronation Cup, continuing a 300-year tradition.

The 18th duke said the gift was placed on the mantelpiece in his medieval family home, Arundel Castle in West Sussex.

He told The Mail: “After the Coronation, the King wrote a wonderful letter saying thank you, adding that a gift would be on its way.

“I am absolutely delighted with the Coronation Cup.”

 

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Monarchs have gifted gilded cups to their Earls Marshal, holders of the hereditary office responsible for major ceremonial state occasions, since George II’s Coronation in 1727.

George III, George IV, William IV, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II continued the tradition.

The presentation was one of several meetings King Charles had on the day Prince Harry landed in London.

The next day, while his son was at St Paul’s Cathedral, the King held a garden party and met with the Prime Minister.