King Charles is reportedly facing an agonising personal decision as his younger son, Prince Harry, seeks a high-profile public reunion at a major sporting event next year.
The Invictus Invitation: A Father's Dilemma
According to royal insiders, the Duke of Sussex "desperately wants" his father to join him on stage to open the Invictus Games when the event returns to the United Kingdom in 2027. The games, a foundation created by Harry to honour wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and veterans, will be held in Birmingham, marking their first UK staging since the inaugural event in 2014.
This private request is believed to have followed a significant meeting between father and son at Clarence House in September 2025. That encounter, described as far more positive than their meeting after the King's cancer diagnosis in February 2024, has rekindled hopes of a sustained reconciliation.
However, royal experts warn that the King's public support for Harry's signature project could force him into an "impossible" position, effectively choosing between his two sons. The Prince of Wales, William, has had a relationship with Harry described as "beyond repair" since the publication of the latter's memoir, Spare, and the brothers are not believed to have spoken since their grandmother's funeral in September 2022.
The William Factor and Security Concerns
Jennie Bond, a respected BBC royal correspondent, highlighted the sensitivity. "It could become a classic case of a father having to choose between his warring sons," she explained. "We can only imagine how William might feel if Charles publicly threw his support behind the games and Harry."
She noted that William has "bitten his lip" and focused on his duties despite the serious health challenges within his immediate family. Witnessing his father salute Harry's achievement on a global platform could be a bitter pill to swallow.
A further complication is the ongoing security situation for the Sussexes in the UK. Prince Harry lost a High Court battle to reinstate his taxpayer-funded police protection after stepping down as a working royal. He is currently awaiting a Home Office review of that ruling. The outcome is seen as pivotal in determining whether he, Meghan, and their children—Archie, six, and Lilibet, four—will feel safe to visit as a family.
"If the security review results in the protection level Harry is demanding, there will be no obvious reason to prevent them coming over as a family," Bond stated, adding it could allow King Charles a long-awaited chance to see his grandchildren, whom he hasn't seen since the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
Meghan's Potential Role and a Scheduling Clash
The return of the Invictus Games to British soil also raises the question of whether the Duchess of Sussex will attend. Bond suggested Meghan, a "savvy woman," would likely understand that staying away from a cause so central to her husband could generate negative headlines. Within the supportive "bubble" of the Invictus community, where she is reportedly well-liked, she might find a safe space to return.
Organisers have hinted they expect senior royals to attend, though formal invitations have not yet been dispatched. A spokesman said: "The royal family have been longstanding supporters of the Invictus Games since its inception."
The event's timing presents another delicate logistical issue. The week-long games in Birmingham are scheduled to conclude on 17 July 2027—which is Queen Camilla's 80th birthday. Sources close to the planning committees say they are aware of the clash but hope the King could attend the opening ceremony and other events while still honouring commitments to his wife.
Ultimately, while the Invictus Games symbolise a "spirit of unity," experts believe any meaningful healing within the Royal Family must occur away from the public eye. "I think these issues are best worked out in private," Bond concluded, emphasising that the King must navigate this "most sensitive of situations" by considering everyone's feelings.
