Sky News interrupted its regular programming on Saturday to deliver a significant update on Prince Harry's upcoming visit to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex is scheduled to travel to London next week for the one-year countdown event for the Invictus Games 2027. Contrary to earlier speculation, it has now been confirmed that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not accompany him.
Sky News Confirms Meghan and Children Will Not Travel
During a broadcast on Saturday afternoon, a Sky News presenter announced: "Sky News understands the Duchess of Sussex and her children will not be travelling to London with Prince Harry this coming week. No decision has been made on whether Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will meet up with the Duke of Sussex early elsewhere in the UK during the visit." This statement dashed hopes that the family might reunite with King Charles for the first time in over four years.
Home News correspondent Mollie Malone added further context on air: "So I say there's a caveat [around Prince Harry's visit] because it's not clear, for example, whether they could join him outside of London, whether they could perhaps stay in a royal residence outside of London. It's not clear whether they could be on part of the trip, just not perhaps in the London part, but it's significant, I think, for a couple of reasons. On a family level, his two grandchildren haven't seen their grandfather, the king, in over four years, and there's been lots of speculation about when that would happen. Would this trip be the moment for that to happen? And then two, of course, there's been this ongoing row over Prince Harry's security more broadly."
Security Concerns and Family Dynamics
It has been four years since Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet last saw their grandfather, King Charles, in person. A spokesperson for Prince Harry stated: "The Duke was continuing to explore options to enable the family to travel safely after his request for police protection was reportedly denied." This ongoing security dispute has been a major factor in the family's reluctance to travel to the UK together.
Earlier reports had suggested that London might be the location for a potential family reunion after Harry and Meghan accepted an offer to stay in a royal residence. However, the revised schedule now means Meghan will not join her husband for a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Wednesday, where he is expected to hold meetings related to the Invictus Games. It remains unclear whether King Charles will meet his grandchildren during this trip.
Implications for Royal Relations
The Duke's solo visit comes amid ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Family. The security row, combined with the couple's relocation to the United States, has limited their interactions with the King. The Invictus Games countdown event is a key engagement for Harry, but the absence of Meghan and the children underscores the challenges in bridging the family divide.
