Duke of Sussex returns to California on British Airways flight

The Duke of Sussex has returned to California after boarding a British Airways flight within hours of his father’s coronation.

Harry arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) around 7.30pm local time (3.30am UK) to be reunited with his son on his birthday.

Prince Archie turned four on Saturday and spent the day with his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, at their home in the United States.

British Airways flight attendants confirmed to the PA news agency that Harry had boarded the flight but said they were not allowed to discuss the details of his trip.

The Duke’s appearance at the coronation was his first public appearance alongside the royals since berating his family in his controversial memoir, Spare.

He sat third row for the coronation of Charles and the Duke’s stepmother, the Queen, at Westminster Abbey and was placed two rows behind his brother, the Prince of Wales.

Harry chatted with his cousin Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi as he entered the church in the drizzle in the UK on Saturday.

He also nodded to the guests and smiled at them as he walked behind them and walked alone through the abbey’s nave.

The Duke is understood to have worn what he was supposed to wear, which consisted of a dark morning suit and tie, his Afghanistan and Jubilee medals pinned to his suit jacket, and a star and Royal Victorian Order neck decoration.

During the service, as the congregation paid homage to the king, Harry was seen with the other royals around him saying the words: “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the king live forever.”

His abrupt return to the US meant he did not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the day’s final, with the palace previously confirming he had no formal role at the event.

Also absent from the balcony was the Duke of York, who has retired from public life following a controversial Newsnight interview in November 2019 and the uproar surrounding his friendship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.