Investigative royal biographer Tom Bower has warned King Charles that it would be 'terrible' to 'play along' with Prince Harry during the Duke of Sussex's upcoming visit to the UK. Harry is returning in July to attend the Invictus Games' One Year to Go event in London with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Bower's Warning
Bower, author of Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, told the Daily Express exclusively: 'They've run out of opportunities in America. They need to restore their credibility somehow. They just need some sort of lifeline, and that's what is in London with the Royal Family. And it would be terrible if the King played along with them in my view.'
Emotional Blackmail Accusation
The biographer also criticized Harry and Meghan's decision to bring their young children, calling it 'emotional blackmail' to secure a meeting with the King. 'I think it is emotional blackmail, and I think that Harry needs the King in Birmingham to give himself and the game's credibility, and I think that it will be very divisive,' Bower said.
He added: 'You've got to remember that when they left England, in their interviews and films and everything they've done, they always said they needed a public apology from the King, the Royal Family and from Prince William, but there is not going to be an apology. It's they who should apologise for all the lies and terrible damage they've done.'
Visit Details and Security Concerns
Although not confirmed by Palace officials, it has been widely reported that the monarch has offered Harry and his family a stay at a royal residence, along with security. This remains contentious, as an official conclusion on the status of Prince Harry's UK-based security has yet to be confirmed after his court battle with the Home Office.
According to The Sun, there is an agreement that the King will meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, whom he has not seen in person since June 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. It is not yet known if Meghan will join the meeting. The paper also claims the family could stay at Buckingham Palace, described by an insider as the 'safest building in Britain', despite Harry previously declining a similar offer during a prior visit.
Background
In May 2025, Harry lost a legal case to have his police protection reinstated for UK visits. In a BBC interview after the ruling, he said it was 'too dangerous' to bring his family to the UK. In December 2025, it was reported that Harry's security access was under review, but no changes have been publicly announced.
A government spokesperson said: 'The UK Government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our longstanding policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.'
