Prince Harry is reportedly planning to invite his father, King Charles, to next year's Invictus Games in an effort to heal their strained relationship. However, royal commentator Amanda Platell has issued a stark five-word warning to the King: "we may never forgive you."
Invitation seen as 'squalid ploy'
According to the Daily Mail, Ms Platell has described the potential invitation as a "squalid ploy" and a "grave mistake." She argues that accepting it would be a decision that his "loyal subjects may never forgive."
Ms Platell, who served as press secretary to Conservative Party leader William Hague from 1999 to 2001, believes Harry's invitation is a "cynical ploy" rather than a "genuine appeal" for reconciliation. She suggests that the King's presence at the event in Birmingham would draw more attention and generate more money for the Sussexes, as pictures of the King alongside his once-estranged son would go viral on social media.
Recent family reunion
The King was reunited with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire earlier this summer. It was their first meeting in four years, and many viewed it as a positive step toward mending the relationship.
Prince Harry visited the UK in early July to promote the next Invictus Games, leading official "One Year to Go" countdown events for the tournament, which will be hosted in Birmingham next year. During the trip, he was joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children for a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla. It was the first time the King and Queen were known to have seen Meghan and their grandchildren since 2022.
Relationship breakdown
Despite the recent meeting, Ms Platell has described Harry as "deluded" if he thinks the brief meeting means he's "back in his dad's good books." She has urged the King to decline the invitation, as it will only benefit Harry.
The breakdown of the relationship between the King and his son is driven by public allegations and disagreements over UK security. Prince Harry openly criticised his father during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, before targeting Camilla in his memoir, Spare, two years later. After stepping down as a working royal, Harry lost his automatic right to tax-funded police protection, and he has since expressed frustration and a sense of grievance regarding the removal, claiming the decision puts his family at risk.
