Prince Harry has reportedly agreed to one crucial rule in a 'heartbeat' ahead of his visit to the UK next month, according to a source close to the Duke of Sussex. The trip, scheduled from Tuesday, July 7 to Saturday, July 11, will see Harry joined by Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, marking their first family visit to Britain in four years.
Private Meeting Agreed Upon
The Duke of Sussex is said to be hoping for his family to meet Prince William, Princess Kate and their children during the trip. A source revealed Harry is also aiming for a reset in relations with King Charles, with a stay reportedly being planned for the Sussexes at Sandringham. However, their meeting will take place in private, with no cameras or subsequent Instagram posts afterwards.
As reported by the Daily Mail, a friend of Harry said: 'The conversations started in January. Harry said that he wanted to come over with Meghan and the kids for Invictus and proposed that the Palace could support them. The view was that he would have to ensure that all of the family part of the visit remained private. He agreed to that in a heartbeat. The way he has conducted himself since then has led to confidence in this new version of Harry. He has changed a lot [since Megxit]. He has grown up.'
Healing Family Rift
The source added that the visit is part of Harry's plan to heal his relationship with the Royal Family. He is believed to be desperate not to strain their relations any further. The rift between Harry and the wider family accelerated when he started dating Meghan Markle in 2016. It is reported that William voiced concerns that their relationship was moving too quickly while Harry took his advice as a lack of support.
In his book, Spare, Harry alleged that an argument regarding the media's portrayal of Meghan escalated into a physical confrontation between the brothers. The relationship worsened in 2021 when Harry and Meghan took part in an interview with Oprah Winfrey where they accused unnamed royals of 'unconscious bias' regarding their son's skin tone.
Brothers Still Estranged
The brothers remain estranged and are believed to have last spoke directly to one another during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. They both attended the memorial service for their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August 2024 but witnesses confirmed that they sat apart.
Harry is now reportedly determined to ensure his upcoming visit to the UK runs smoothly. He hopes that the family will reunite next month and was happy to agree that their meeting remained private. Harry is set to attend events in Birmingham celebrating the 'One Year to Go' countdown for the 2027 Invictus Games. He is also scheduled to make appearances for the UK-based charities that he supports, including WellChild and Scotty's Little Soldiers.
