A Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Wednesday that Prince Harry will attend the coronation ceremony of his father Charles next month, but that his wife Meghan will remain in California with her two children.

That ends speculation about whether Harry, the king's youngest son, will attend the coronation following his harsh criticism of the royal family since stepping down from royal duties in 2020.

Charles will be crowned at London's Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a thousand-year-old state, pompous ceremony.

Charles ascended the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, last September.

The coronation ceremony is expected to be attended by heads of state and dignitaries.

Preparations for the coronation ceremony over the past few months have been overshadowed by Harry's scathing remarks about his father and brother William, heir to the throne.

Harry's criticism came in his recent memoirs, a Netflix documentary, and a series of television interviews.