Prince Harry is set to return to the UK next month, bringing his young family from the United States. While Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will meet their grandparents during the reunion, royal experts indicate they are unlikely to see their uncle Prince William, who has 'no plans' for a reunion.
King's Olive Branch Enables the Visit
The Sussexes are travelling to celebrate the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games held in the UK. The journey was made possible after King Charles offered a royal residence for the family to stay in during July. Although there was speculation about whether the Sussexes would come due to Harry's security status still under review by the Home Office, the King's offer of accommodation was 'reluctantly' found to have sufficient security conditions for the trip.
According to royal experts, Charles' role in facilitating Harry and Meghan's return demonstrates his genuine desire to reconcile with his younger son after years of tension. This move also displays the King's leadership as head of the family, reports the Mirror.
Royal Historian on Reconciliation
Speaking about the upcoming reunion, royal author and historian Andrew Lownie said: 'I think that's genuine reconciliation. For many years now, these two royal dramas [Andrew and Harry] have been going on, and this one is now playing out.' He added: 'No one wants to fall out with their children, and I think there's a genuine personal desire here to see his grandchildren. But I also think the King believes that having an estranged royal is not good for the optics.'
William's Reluctance to Reunite
Harry will attend events next month to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. However, while the King seems to be making an attempt to reconcile, the same cannot be said for his eldest son, Prince William. Lownie suggests that Charles will have to 'deal with William, who clearly is adamant that they have nothing to do with Harry'. While the expert believes the King will need to exert more authority, others state that William will ignore all attempts to get in touch.
A source previously said: 'William won't be seeing his brother. I suspect he will make sure he's miles away when Harry visits to avoid any awkward encounters. Harry has tried to make contact repeatedly, but William won't take his calls.'
Irritation Over Charles' Efforts
Writing in Vanity Fair, royal expert Katie Nicholl adds that William's reluctance to reunite with his younger brother is further fuelled by 'irritation' that Charles is 'bending over backwards' to make the UK visit happen. Insiders have shared that Charles and William have opposing perspectives on the Prince Harry drama. While Charles stands by that 'one must forgive and move on', William is much more likely to hold a grudge and is unable to forgive his brother for what he did to their family.
The last time both Harry and William were in a room together was reportedly at the funeral of their uncle Sir Robert Fellowes back in August 2024. However, the brothers were not seen to speak during the proceedings. This may have been for the best, as Harry previously shared that he had a tense exchange with his brother and father following Prince Philip's funeral in 2021. At the time, Charles was said to have begged his sons to behave, saying: 'Please boys, don't make my final years a misery.'
Hope for Future Reunion
While Harry and William seem unlikely to reconcile during this upcoming visit, royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan remains hopeful that a reunion will happen eventually. Believing that the Sussexes' return to the UK is a step in the right direction, the Scottish royal commentator added: 'I think it will be great for Archie and Lilibet to see the country that their father is from and where their mum and dad got married. That will be lovely for them, and also to see their dad's work on the Invictus Games which is really incredible. On a purely human level, [the reunion] can only be a wonderful thing. I think it's definitely a big old olive branch being extended there.'
