The Five Royal Dukes And Their Roles At King Charles III Coronation

Traditionally, British royal dukes are the first to pay homage to the newly-crowned monarch during the church service at Westminster Abbey when there's no Prince of Wales.

At King Charles III's Coronation this Saturday, it's expected that the first to pay homage after the archbishops and the bishops is his eldest son and heir, William, the Prince of Wales. He will be followed by the royal dukes.

HRH The Prince of Wales

However, the current status of the two royal dukes poses uncertainties to this long-cherished royal tradition during the historic Coronation.

King Charles III's second son, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his younger brother, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, are currently non-working royals. Although they are attending the Coronation Ceremony at Westminster Abbey, some royal analysts noted they might never be permitted to wear the Coronation Robes.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, knelt before his wife, the Queen, at her Coronation in 1953. He was the first person to pay homage to Her Majesty after the Archbishop and Bishops. He was followed by the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. Image credit: The Royal Collection Trust

Family photo during the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

If Prince Harry and his uncle, Prince Andrew, would not be permitted to wear the Coronation Robes, it will be most likely that they are not part of the first British peers to pay homage to the newly-crowned King.

The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of York stepped back from senior royal roles under controversial circumstances that scandalized the British monarchy, and this uncomfortable situation might bring a negative impression on the historic event.

Coronation of King George VI in May 1937. From left: Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, Prince George, Duke of Kent, Queen Mary, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Mary, Princess Royal

However, King Charles III, who has not abandoned his son and his brother amidst the controversial royal departures, and who continue to extend an olive branch to the two Windsor men, might give an extraordinary exemption for the sake of family unity.

Currently, there are five British royal dukes: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent. Among these five, only three are working royals.

The young Duke of Kent at Queen's Coronation

The 17-year-old Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent in his Coronation Robe, and his mother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark at Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation. June 1953

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, now is 87 years old

Among these royal dukes, only The Duke of Kent who is still alive among the three royal dukes who first paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953 - Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, was only 17 years old when he paid homage to his cousin, the Queen, in 1953. He inherited the title at the tender age of six when his father, Prince George, Duke of Kent, tragically died from a plane crash in August 1942 while on active duty with the Royal Air force during World War II.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their only son, James, the Earl of Wessex

Will the long-cherished tradition of the British royal dukes paying homage to the newly-crowned Sovereign be carried on during the Coronation of King Charles III? It is something to be looked forward this coming Saturday.

Mean time, Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, hinted in the interview that she did not receive an invitation to the Coronation Ceremony but she is understood to join the Royal Family members for a private reception in Windsor Castle.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, would not be attending the ceremony at all and would not be in the United Kingdom soil during the week-long historic celebration.

Many people have wondered with this decision. Was it Meghan's choice not to attend or was she advised not to come to the UK for the event? We did not know.

Meghan Markle wont attend the Coronation

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

But royal analysts find it odd considering that it's a historic event and the King's family should suppose to be present in the occasion. If other world royals are attending the event why is it that his own daughter-in-law would not be there?

It was King Charles, while still the Prince of Wales, who walked Meghan Markle down the aisle when she married Prince Harry in May 2018, after her father, Thomas Markle, abruptly left England after the fake paparazzi photo was exposed days before the royal wedding.

Whatever the real reason behind Meghan Markle's absence on the historic Coronation of her father-in-law, we are hoping it's for the best for both parties.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's relationship with the senior members of The Royal Family went from bad to worse since the disastrous Oprah Winfrey interview followed by their Netflix docu series made worse by the publication of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare.

Still, King Charles III, wanted his younger son to attend his Coronation for the sake of family unity. We are looking forward for the joyous event this coming Saturday. We will be sharing more details about the King's upcoming Coronation.

The five British Royal Dukes (arranged based on their places in the line of succession)