Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to head to the UK in just a matter of weeks to attend a major Invictus event. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to bring their children, Archie and Lilibet, to Birmingham in July for an event marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games. This will be their first trip to Britain as a family in four years.
Potential Meeting with King Charles
Reports have claimed that Harry and Meghan are likely to meet with King Charles during their time in the UK, as Harry works towards reconciliation with his father. However, the same cannot be said for the Duke’s relationship with his older brother, Prince William.
Harry and William have had a strained relationship for many years, with their rift reportedly beginning to form in the years before the Sussexes quit their royal roles in 2020 and relocated to California. As Harry and Meghan continued to level accusations against the Firm—most notably in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, their Netflix docuseries in 2022, and Harry’s memoir “Spare” in 2023—Harry’s relationship with his older brother fractured even further.
No Recent Contact
The brothers have not been seen together for several years, with the pair believed to not be on speaking terms. During Harry’s recent trips to the UK, he has not seen William or his sister-in-law Kate. While it is likely that Harry and Meghan, along with their children, will meet with King Charles during their rare family visit to the UK, one royal commentator believes the brothers are unlikely to see each other.
Royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan believes there is much work to be done before Harry and William bury the hatchet and reconcile. She said: “I don’t think they are there yet. I do think it will happen, but I don’t think it will happen yet. I think it’s baby steps. But they might shock us, they might surprise us. I don’t think we will see William and Harry hand in hand skipping down the Mall, but you never know. I genuinely think not yet, but it will happen.”
King Charles in a Difficult Position
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond added that Charles has been placed in a difficult position by having to navigate the brothers’ feud. Jennie told the Mirror: “It is, though, going to be a delicate balancing act for the King. If he makes peace with his youngest son, his loyal and steadfast older son will have his nose royally put out of joint. There is absolutely no sign of any thaw in the brotherly feud. But we should never say never. Things can change—and perhaps William might one day come round to his brother’s view that ‘there’s no point in continuing to fight any more’.”
Palace Insider on Reunion
A palace insider also said that a reunion between the pair is very much up in the air, as the Prince and Princess of Wales remain hurt by the Sussexes’ accusations at the Firm over the years. One royal source said: “The Prince and Princess of Wales remain deeply hurt by Harry and Meghan’s comments since leaving their royal duties that they were abandoned and mistreated when part of the royal family.”
The last time Meghan Markle was in Britain was for the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022, while Archie and Lilibet last travelled to the UK just months earlier for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. When the Duke and Duchess were in the UK for the late Queen’s funeral, they joined William and Kate for a walkabout in Windsor.
