Home for the long weekend; what time could Prince Harry arrive today ahead of the King’s Coronation?

The King’s Coronation is almost upon us - just another 24 hours until King Charles III and Queen Camilla begin their procession to Westminster Abbey where world history will be made as the United Kingdom and Commonwealth crown a new King and Queen. A big occasion for not only monarchists/royalists/those who have binge watched Netflix’s The Crown but for members of the Royal family too. 

One of which, marred with controversy throughout his seceding of Royal duties with his wife Meghan Markle, is Harry, Duke of Sussex, who we’ve revealed before will be undertaking a whistlestop visit to attend the coronation before returning back to Montecito on the same day to attend the birthday of his eldest, Prince Archie. We’ve already mapped out an itinerary for Harry to use in order to jet-off in time to get the maximum amount of time with his son, but as the Coronation draws to its zero hour, there are a few questions about Harry that remain speculated.

What will he wear? Is he going to be in uniform or will he be allowed to wear the medals he was rewarded during his tours of Afghanistan? Will he appear on the balcony, bucking a royal tradition that only working members of the Royal family are allowed to take residence on the platform that faces the entire Mall and the new subjects of his father, King Charles III.

But being the even loving John Hughes fans, and given we had a look at how Harry could get back to Montecito in time via planes, trains and the odd automobile, we’d be remiss not to have a look at what time Harry could possibly arrive in the United Kingdom ahead of tomorrow’s proceedings.

We know that for Harry to attend and not burn the candle at both ends that it is reasonable enough for him to arrive the night before, possibly by the time King Charles III goes to bed (allegedly, the night before a coronation the ascending Royal member usually goes to sleep at a ridiculously early hour), but what time could the Duke of Sussex arrive today, and where may he be staying - on such a regal, historic event, crashing on the couch of a friend hardly seems apt.

We’ve put on our travel agent hats on once again to take a look at how Harry could possible arrive this evening ahead of his father’s momentous occasion.

Montecito to Santa Barbara Airport

Let’s be a little different in our approach this time around - let’s say that Harry doesn’t have the luxury of a chauffeured ride to Santa Barbara Airport from his residence in Montecito. While using a ride sharing service such as Lyft in the United States might be an option, we’ve opted to go with Uber for privacy.

According to Uber, a ride from Montecito Airport to Santa Barbara Airport is estimated to cost Harry $25.75 USD, and should traffic be a little busier by the time he sets off, let’s say that it would take him 25 minutes to get from his residence to SBA. 

With a time difference of London being seven hours ahead of Montecito, for Harry to set off and arrive this afternoon, we’re going to say he’ll be leaving his residence at 8pm PDT, which would be 3am BST.

• Time in Montecito: 8pm - 8:30pm PDT (May 4 2023)
• Time in London: 3am - 3:30am BST  (May 5 2023)

Santa Barbara Airport to London Stansted Airport

Flightradar 24 has given an estimate regarding the travel time for a private jet from Santa Barbara Airport to London Stansted as 10 hours 30 minutes, should conditions be ideal and no delays take place. Despite taking an Uber XL, we’re sure that Harry would have a team on-ground at the airport to whisk him to his private jet.

The Civil Aviation Authority in the United States has stated that private jets would require grounding for 30 minutes before take off for final pre-fight checks before jettoning off into the air. So let’s say that Harry would spend around 60 minutes at the airport - which would mean he’d be leaving the United States by around 9:30pm PDT, which would be 3:30am BST - meaning as you read this, Harry is potentially already in the air!

• Time in Montecito: 9:30pm (May 4 2023) - 8am PDT (May 5 2023)
• Time in London: 3:30am - 2pm BST (May 5 2023)

London Stansted Airport to Frogmore Cottage

That 10 hour 30 minute flight by private jet will no doubt give the Duke of Sussex some well earned rest - what else is he going to do while travelling in the air? Read what the UK papers are saying about him and Meghan? Heaven forbid.

Speculation has mounted the past few days where Harry would stay when he arrives in the United Kingdom, and his former residence has been the most discussed location for the night ahead of the Coronation. Frogmore Cottage has had a bit of a revolving door policy since Harry and Meghan left, with Princess Eugenie said to have been the most recent resident, while Prince Andrew is still dragging his feet moving from the Royal Lodge to the residence. 

From London Stansted Airport to Frogmore Cottage, Windsor, it would take an estimated 1 hour 21 minutes according to Google Maps should traffic be good (and taking into account road closures ahead of tomorrow’s processions) and we would imagine that Harry would still have to undertake some post-flight formalities before a private driver chauffeurs him to Windsor. 

In that case, let’s allow that 30 minutes we did for pre-flight checks from Santa Barbara Airport and say that Harry sets off to Frogmore Cottage from 2:45pm BST, in the event paparazzi are floating around his flight destination.

• Time in London: 2:45pm - 4:10pm BST (rounding up from 4:06pm in case Harry wants a snack on his way to Frogmore Cottage)
• Time in Montecito? 6:45am PDT - 8:10am PDT

What time could Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrive in the United Kingdom then?

Should, and it is a big should, things go according to our prediction, that would mean that Harry, Duke of Sussex would arrive in London by 2:45pm BST, and finally get a chance to put his feet up at Frogmore Cottage by 4:10pm. 

The things you do for your family, are we right?