Prince Harry's reported desire to be invited to Sandringham this summer has been dismissed by royal insiders, citing 'low trust and bitter experience' as key barriers. The Duke of Sussex is said to want his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to spend time with their grandfather, King Charles, in an attempt to mend the family rift.
A friend of the King told the Daily Mail: 'If Harry truly wishes to see his father, he would do well to encourage his supporters to allow such matters to be discussed privately, since low trust and bitter experience in this regard remains one of the principal barriers to progress.' The comment follows a series of public accusations from Harry and Meghan, including television interviews and the release of Harry's memoir, Spare.
Despite the tensions, sources close to Harry have indicated he would welcome an invitation to Sandringham during his visit to the UK in July for Invictus Games events. However, the prince's security arrangements remain a sticking point. After being stripped of taxpayer-funded Metropolitan Police protection in 2020, Harry is awaiting a decision on his security provision for the trip.
A friend of Harry's was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: 'If he was invited by the King, he would get a package of security that automatically kicks in. He'd like an invite to Sandringham. Would he go? It would depend who was there.' The friend added that Harry would love to spend time with the family if the King invited him, but noted that 'it's all out of Harry's hands'.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who have an estranged relationship with Harry, often spend holidays at Sandringham. Archie and Lilibet last saw their grandfather during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, while Meghan last visited the UK in September 2022 for the Queen's funeral.
