Royal funerals are meticulously arranged far in advance, and King Charles III has already begun outlining his own under the codename “Operation London Bridge.” Amid his ongoing battle with cancer, the monarch has expressed a heartfelt wish for his younger son, Prince Harry, to be included in the ceremony, along with Meghan Markle and their children. Since stepping down from royal duties, Harry has resided in Montecito, California, with Meghan and their two children — Archie, age 6, and Lilibet, age 4. The King hopes they will return to the UK to take part in the official mourning period.
When the time comes, King Charles is reportedly determined that Harry will play a central, public role in the funeral proceedings. Harry is expected to join his older brother, Prince William — who will be named the next king — in leading the formal procession through London. The two brothers, sons of the late Princess Diana, will walk together in a symbolic display of unity.
Harry and Meghan are expected to attend the family vigil at Westminster Hall and take part in the official funeral events alongside senior members of the royal family. Special arrangements are also being considered for Archie and Lilibet to attend both the memorial at Westminster Abbey and the burial ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. In addition to the public appearances, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will likely participate in private meetings and ceremonial rehearsals.
While the overall structure of King Charles’ funeral is modeled after Queen Elizabeth II’s, a few personal touches have been added. Reflecting his passion for sustainability, eco-conscious materials will be used where possible. Unlike Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, which included an extended period of royal mourning, Charles plans to keep it equal to the national mourning period — about 10 to 11 days.
After Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022, mourning continued for an additional week after her funeral. As with all royal protocols, plans for Charles’ funeral are designed to adapt to different circumstances, including where he might pass away and how his remains would be transported to London.
Since his cancer diagnosis in February of last year, King Charles has continued to receive weekly treatments while fulfilling public duties. Buckingham Palace notes that the funeral arrangements are still under review and not yet finalized.
Prince Harry, meanwhile, has expressed concerns over returning to the UK due to security issues stemming from the couple’s exit from royal duties. However, during a royal funeral, full police protection would be granted to the family without exception.
