The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, is reportedly preparing a significant peace offering to his father, King Charles III, in an attempt to mend their fractured relationship. Sources claim the prince is 'desperate' to see his father and has extended a special invitation for a key role at a major public event.
The Invictus Invitation: A Public Olive Branch
According to insider reports, Harry has asked the King to open the Invictus Games when the event returns to the United Kingdom next year. The games are scheduled to take place at the NEC in Birmingham in June 2026. This move could see the father and son appear together on stage at the opening ceremony, marking a potential public thaw after years of reported distance.
An insider told The Sun: "Prince Harry desperately wants Charles at Invictus - and he wants him to open the games alongside him. Harry wants it to happen both for the games, and for their relationship. It’s his dream to have his father by his side."
A Long Road to Reconciliation
The potential gesture comes after a period of extreme strain. Since stepping back as a working royal in 2020, Harry is said to have spent only a few minutes alone with his father. Their most prominent public meeting since then was during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
In a BBC interview last year, following a failed legal appeal for police protection, Harry suggested the King was refusing to speak to him "because of this security stuff". He expressed a fear that any communication could become part of the public legal record.
Despite these hurdles, Harry has been vocal about his desire for peace. He told the BBC's Nada Tawfik: "There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has." He added that he "would love reconciliation" with his family.
Security Concerns and Family Visits
The ongoing security dispute continues to be a major barrier. Harry has stated that until he receives satisfactory assurances over his family's protection, he cannot bring his wife Meghan or their children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK. "It is impossible... I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he said.
Prince Harry is due to fly to London from California later this month for a High Court privacy claim, scheduled to open on January 19, 2026. However, it is not expected that he will meet with his father during this UK visit.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. The inaugural event was held in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park that same year. Buckingham Palace, the Duke of Sussex's office, and the Invictus Games organisation have been approached for comment on the latest reports.
