With speculation rising last week that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal titles could be in jeopardy after breaking yet more “family rules” by refusing to RSVP to King Charles’ Coronation, Harry stunned royalists and critics alike when Buckingham Palace confirmed he would be attending the service on 6 May.

However, after what has been described as a game of “transatlantic ping pong” as the couple reportedly went back and forth over tense negotiations, it was revealed that Meghan and their children – Archie, three, and one-year-old Lilibet – will remain at home in California amid the couple’s ongoing feud with the family.

A statement released by Buckingham Palace read, “Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”

But now a source says Meghan, 41, is only too aware of how Harry, 38, could be persuaded by the likes of Kate Middleton into rejoining the family fold, after three years of turmoil. And in a bid to protect everything they’ve fought for, she’s said to be asking Harry to play by a strict set of rules.

SHUNNED

The insider says, “Naturally Meghan has her concerns about Harry going to the Coronation alone. She knows how the family feel about her and worry they will try to talk to Harry and share their side of the story. Meghan doesn’t really trust any of them, so she’s made sure to set some ground rules for her husband. Harry’s more than happy to follow them too, to keep the peace. He won’t be meeting up privately with William and Kate and will keep the essential meetings with other family members very quick and formal.”

Harry and Meghan were said to have been left “humiliated” after they were shunned from the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Jubilee. They received an equally frosty reception at the Queen’s funeral in September, when Harry was allegedly told not to bring Meghan to Balmoral, and exchanged only brief civil exchanges with William.

But while it’s reported that Harry will not take part in the Coronation procession and that he’s unlikely to attend the celebrations at Buckingham Palace, King Charles has offered an olive branch. He’s said to be extending the couple’s lease on Frogmore Cottage until after the Coronation, following the eviction he issued to the pair last month.

However, it’s unlikely the trip will see any reconciliation talks between Harry and his father and brother Prince William. The couple’s friend and biographer Omid Scobie has even warned fans that Harry is likely to make another swift exit akin to the one he and Meghan made after the Jubilee, saying, “Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry.”

RELEGATED

The source adds, “Harry will head back to the US as soon as he can and then probably won’t be back for a long time. He and Meghan see no point and she is currently in no mind to mend relations. Meghan knew her and Harry were going to be relegated to minor roles. She felt humiliated at the Jubilee with how they were treated and she wasn’t going through that again.”

And royal insiders insist Meghan’s absence has been a blessing thinly-disguised, adding, “The rest of the family will be relieved that Meghan won’t be there – it would have been particularly uncomfortable for Kate.”

The Coronation day, which will be attended by around 2,000 guests including world leaders, public faces and representatives from charities across the UK, also falls on Prince Archie’s fourth birthday. And while Meghan, 41, didn’t want the special occasion to be overshadowed by the Coronation, the insider says his birthday “has been the perfect excuse”.

Meanwhile, former royal butler Paul Burrell also shared his belief that Meghan, who continues to be at loggerheads with the royals, would find it too hard to attend the landmark event. He said, “They’ll have to sit with the family they pushed under the bus… I don’t think Meghan is strong enough.”

BULLYING

Last month marked two years since the couple began airing their grievances with the royal family, who they accuse of ostracising them with racism and bullying. Harry has even alleged that Prince William knocked him to the ground in a row, and dubbed Queen Camilla “dangerous” because of her alleged connections with the press.

Yet it’s said the couple still want an apology from the royals, despite earning over £100 million in deals, which like their December Netflix documentary and Harry’s January memoir Spare, did little else than further their deep-rooted feud with the Firm.

Now the insider says, “Meghan can never forgive the royals for the way she claims they treated her over the years and their cold reaction to her and Harry’s allegations in their documentary and his book.

“She honestly thought she would receive some sort of an apology from them, but when that didn’t happen, she decided there wasn’t a chance she would suffer their cold stares at the Coronation.

“She’s done with the royals and determined to do things on her terms.”