A potential summer visit to Britain by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is set to create a significant "dilemma" for the Royal Family, according to a leading expert. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are rumoured to be travelling to the UK in July to begin the countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, an event that could force a delicate balancing act for King Charles and Prince William.
The Grandchildren Gambit
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams suggests the trip could see King Charles reunited with his grandchildren, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, for the first time in four years. The last time the monarch saw them was during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. Fitzwilliams believes bringing the children could be a strategic move by the Sussexes to improve strained relations.
"There is so much hostility over here towards the Sussexes, and if they’re hoping to smooth the path with Charles, a reunion with the grandchildren would be an obvious way of doing that," he stated. While Meghan has not returned to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022, the expert asserts her involvement in the Invictus trip is certain. "It would be unthinkable for Meghan not to appear at Invictus because it would look like she was hiding away," he added.
A Clash of Duty and Personal Feelings
The core of the dilemma lies in the 2027 Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, which will be held in Birmingham. As Head of the Armed Forces, there is a strong case for King Charles to officially open the event. However, his support would mean publicly endorsing his son's project amid the deep rift caused by Harry's memoir, 'Spare', the Oprah Winfrey interview, and the Netflix series.
"The Games are a major dilemma for the royals and it’s a dilemma that the Sussexes have created themselves," Fitzwilliams explained. He predicts a "divergence" between Charles and William on how to handle Harry and the Games, but believes Harry will be "banking on the Windsors putting duty before their personal feelings".
The William Factor and Frosty Reunions
The prospect of a reconciliation between the brothers appears slim. Prince William and Harry have reportedly not spoken in over three years, with Fitzwilliams recalling them "looking daggers at each other" at the 2020 Commonwealth Day Service. Any meeting between the two couples in the UK would be "extremely tense behind closed doors," the expert warned.
Fitzwilliams doubts the Prince of Wales's stance will soften. "The Sussexes are probably hoping to alter public opinion, but I don’t think William’s opinion of them and what they have done can be altered," he said. This makes it highly unlikely William would represent the King at the Games if Charles opts out.
The situation is further complicated by the event's schedule, which clashes with Queen Camilla's 80th birthday. Ultimately, the royal family's response remains unclear as they navigate the fallout from what the expert described as the Sussexes dropping "three nuclear bombs under Buckingham Palace".
