After a private family meeting at Highgrove earlier this month, speculation is mounting over whether Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children will join the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle this summer. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had not spent a summer at the Scottish estate since they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Reunion at Highgrove sparks hope
Harry and Meghan made a joint return to the UK in July 2026, with Harry attending an Invictus Games event in Birmingham. While in the country, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet secretly flew in and stayed at Althorp House. They met King Charles and Queen Camilla for a private meeting at Highgrove, marking the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in several years. No details or photos from the meeting have been shared, leading many to believe the rift may be healing.
Harry's fondness for Balmoral
Harry has written fondly about his childhood summers at Balmoral in his memoir Spare, describing the castle and grounds as “simply paradise” and “a cross between Disney World and some sacred Druid grove.” He has expressed a desire for Archie and Lilibet to learn more about their royal heritage.
Experts doubt an invitation this year
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror: “I think it’s still a question of baby steps as far as the reconciliation between the King and the Sussexes goes. Everyone is still waiting to see whether the privacy of the recent reunion at Highgrove will be honoured. So far, so good – no leaked details, no rumours of any photos being made public. And it needs to remain that way.”
She added: “But I certainly can’t see Harry and Meghan being invited to Balmoral when William and his family are there. Other family members would clearly have to be asked if they wanted to be there at the same time. The castle is almost a sacred place for the royal family. It is where the late Queen was happiest and where she died. It is the place where the family feels truly off-duty and relaxed. They can put their guard down, and they would have to feel that was still the case if Harry and Meghan were there.”
Royal author Ingrid Seward agreed, saying the King could extend an invitation but likely with conditions: “Charles would get to say, ‘Darling boy, of course come to Balmoral’, and then because he's the King, he could let his aides deal with everything else. They'd probably have to make them sign confidentiality agreements and all kinds of stuff - but Charles doesn't have to do it, he can sit there looking like the good guy. He has a private secretary and other staff to deal with all of the details. They'd have them buttoned up as much as you can button them up.”
Seward also noted that any Balmoral reunion would require careful planning to avoid clashes: “I think the King would pick very carefully who was going to be there at the same time, and it certainly wouldn't be William and Kate. If it were, I'd be absolutely astounded.”
Future possibility
Jennie Bond added that while a trip this year seems unlikely, the future could be different: “I think it’s unlikely that we will see Harry and his family at Balmoral this year. But if the baby steps keep on coming, Harry might get his wish to show his children the wonders of this magical Scottish castle.”
