King Charles's offer to let Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay at Buckingham Palace again has been dismissed as "a really bad move" by a royal watcher.
Harry to visit UK for WellChild awards
The Duke of Sussex is due to visit Britain in September when he is set to attend the annual WellChild awards. Reports of an invitation from the King come after accommodation plans for Harry's last trip descended into chaos.
Royal watchers Samara Gill and Simon Vigar discussed the invite in the latest episode of The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast. Asked if Harry should be invited to stay at the palace, Talk TV host Gill said: "I mean, honestly, offering something like Buckingham Palace to two of the most hated royals, Harry and Meghan, is a really, really bad move in my view."
Divided opinions on the offer
"I don't agree with it. I think that Harry faffed around way too much last time and there are no consequences now for his actions. He's been offered it once again. I do think it is an olive branch from the King, absolutely, but I don't think it's the right move," Gill added.
Vigar, when asked if the move showed Charles was rising above the family drama, agreed. He told Royal Exclusive: "He's 77-years-old. He's still being treated for cancer. It was such a mess last time and so avoidable, again."
The Royal Correspondent at 5 News said: "I disagree. Just make it happen. Let them stay there. Obviously the security is there when they're behind those palace railings."
Security and past disputes
He observed that Charles is just trying to secure some kind of rapprochement with his son. The Duke criticised Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales and Princess Catherine in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary and his autobiography Spare. His rift with Prince William is ongoing and shows no sign of abating.
After the debacle over security and where he would stay reported earlier this month it was understood royal accommodation would be made available to Harry and his family for future visits. Harry's spokesman had said he would be staying at the Palace earlier in July, but minutes later royal sources clarified that his request to stay there had been refused after leaving it too late to accept the offer.
The Duke and his team were understood to have been frustrated that the reasons given for the withdrawal of the offer to stay at the palace shifted from not accepting the accommodation to the legal judgement over the Associated Newspapers case. Harry and his family were not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, other than when they stay within royal residences.
