- King Charles' coronation souvenir program includes a photo with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
- The photo was taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson for Charles' 70th birthday in November 2018.
The official souvenir program for King Charles III's coronation features a 2018 royal family portrait that includes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Independent reported.
Getty Images royal photographer Chris Jackson took the portrait in honor of Charles' 70th birthday. The photo, released in November 2018, features Charles and Camilla sitting on a bench in the gardens of Clarence House surrounded by Harry and Meghan as well as Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
In the candid moment, Camilla directed Charlotte to look at the camera as George laughed on Charles' knee. Meghan can also be seen laughing.
Jackson previously told Insider that the photo was "an honor to take."
"I love this particular moment where the family are clearly enjoying themselves and it's just a lovely, relaxed moment," he said.
While the royal family appeared happy and relaxed in the photo, reports had already started emerging by then about tensions between Meghan and Harry and other royal family members. The same month the portrait was released, Harry and Meghan announced their plans to relocate to Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, 18 miles away from Kensington Palace where they had lived close to William and Kate.The Daily Telegraph, citing two sources, also reported in November 2018 that Meghan had left Kate in tears the week of the royal wedding in a dispute over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid's dress. Meghan later said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that it was Kate who had made her cry, not the other way around, and that she had apologized.
Buckingham Palace announced that Harry will attend Charles' coronation without Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The coronation falls on the same day as Archie's 4th birthday, which royal author Omid Scobie said "played a factor in the couple's decision" for Meghan to stay behind with him and Lilibet.
The inclusion of Harry and Meghan in the coronation program may indicate further reconciliation with the royal family since the release of their Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan" and Harry's tell-all memoir, "Spare." In addition to inviting Harry and Meghan to the coronation, Charles also spoke of the "immense pride" both William and Harry would have in cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in a speech on April 14, Insider's Maria Noyen reported.
The 84-page official souvenir program retails for £10 ($12.42), the proceeds from which support the Armed Forces charity SSAFA as well as Royal Collection Trust, according to The Independent.