Prince Harry and Meghan's missed photo op on coronation day

Official photos of Prince Archie of Sussex are few and far between, with his parents the Duke and Duchess of Sussex largely keeping him out of the spotlight.

Royal fans had been hoping to get a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son across the coronation festivities, but those ideas were dashed when the couple's RSVP was revealed last month.

Buckingham Palace announced the duke would attend his father's big day solo, while the duchess and their two kids remained at home in LA.

READ MORE: How King Charles' coronation will differ to Queen Elizabeth's

Archie, who received his princely title earlier this year, turns four on May 6 – the same day his grandfather King Charles III is crowned.

It's understood both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were considered too young to be invited to the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey, Britain's first coronation in 70 years

However, Prince Charles was the same age as Archie when he witnessed his mother's coronation in 1953.

READ MORE: Palace 'pushing' for Camilla to have her moment at coronation

Similarly, Prince Louis was four when he attended Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee last year – stealing the show on the Buckingham Palace balcony as he spoke to the monarch.

Llittle Louis won hearts around the world again with his animated antics during the pageant and gave the world an insight into their family dynamic as he happily sat on Grandpa Charles's lap.

While the coronation is a massive royal event, it's also a family day and this feels like a missed opportunity for fresh starts – which, after all, is kind of the theme of the day.

A photo of King Charles with Prince Archie as both the monarch and his grandson celebrate special days together would show the Sussexes are still firmly a part of the family despite the royal rift.

This is a narrative the late Queen was always keen to point out on such occasions.

READ MORE: The coronation of King Charles III: What we know so far

It could have marked a turning point in the frosty relationship between the British royal family and the duke and duchess (even if just to the public, as they deal with their issues privately).

It would have been a chance to show a family united – despite recent divisions, claims and allegations – and one with a focus forward to the future, not looking back.

It's been reported that King Charles had planned to include Archie in his speech at the coronation reception but whether the tribute stays or gets the chop remains to be seen.

Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine and royal biographer, said previously she thought "the real loser is little Archie" in Harry and Meghan's attendance decision.

"How exciting it would have been to see the soldiers, carriages and horses of his grandfather's armies. What a shame he was denied the opportunity however hard for his parents," she told Mirror UK.

While he'll miss out on the excitement in London, the birthday boy will also miss out while in LA, with his dad missing from the festivities.

As heirs to the throne, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, release photos of their three children – Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, five – on each of their birthdays.

Often these are photographed by their mum Kate and similarly in the past, Prince Harry has been behind the camera for a video released on Archie's first birthday in 2020.

Royal fans also got a look into the Sussex family's photo album and home video collection during the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, released late last year, in which the couple included plenty of snaps of their children.