Prince Harry could be set for a long-awaited reunion with King Charles this summer when he visits the UK for an Invictus Games event, but only if certain conditions are met. Relations between Harry and the Royal Family have remained strained since he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and later made public attacks, including the Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry's memoir Spare.
Royal author Ingrid Seward told the Mirror that the King could extend an invitation to Harry, Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, if Harry agrees to follow specific rules. Seward suggested Balmoral as the ideal meeting place, saying: 'The only place that really I think they could meet if the King is to get to know or at least see his grandchildren, is at Balmoral. It’s the only time the King has time and the Sussexes could be accommodated there because there’s lots of cottages on the Estate.'
The Aberdeenshire estate offers security and privacy, and Seward noted that William and Kate would not be present at the same time. Harry last visited Balmoral in September 2022 after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but Meghan did not accompany him. Since then, there have been few signs of a thaw, beyond a brief meeting between Harry and Charles last summer.
Tensions remain particularly severe between Harry and Prince William, with the brothers barely on speaking terms. Seward believes Charles could welcome Harry if approached directly, saying: '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.'
Security concerns, which have been a sticking point for Harry, would be alleviated if the family stayed on royal grounds, as they would receive full security. Seward added that confidentiality agreements might be required, but Charles could delegate the details to his staff.
