Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are scheduled to visit the United Kingdom next month with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, marking the children's first time in the UK in years. The visit coincides with the one-year countdown party for the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
King Charles is reportedly involved in facilitating the visit, offering accommodation and ensuring security arrangements for Prince Harry. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams suggested that the King's involvement is driven by a desire for reconciliation and to see his grandchildren, whom he has not met in person since June 2022. Fitzwilliams noted that the King, who is in his late 70s and battling cancer, wants to be constructive, but also stated that the King will expect an agreement for no public disclosures following their meeting.
Fitzwilliams categorized members of the royal family based on their likely reception of the Sussexes. He identified King Charles as the most likely to offer a warm welcome, while Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, are considered least likely.
Potential Receptions Among Royals
According to Fitzwilliams, King Charles is aiming for reconciliation and to see his grandchildren. He also noted that Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, along with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, are close to Harry. However, any meetings with the York sisters are expected to be private, as the Sussexes may wish to maintain a public distance due to the controversy surrounding Eugenie and Beatrice's parents.
In the 'in-between' category, Fitzwilliams placed Princess Anne, Edward and Sophie (Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh), and Mike and Zara Tindall. Princess Anne is described as loyal to the Crown and focused on her duties, reportedly suspicious of Meghan and not trusting the couple. Edward and Sophie may feel sympathy, having explored careers outside the royal family themselves, but are now close to the inner circle and likely to observe dynamics before engaging publicly. Mike and Zara Tindall were once close to Prince Harry, with Harry being godfather to their daughter Lena, but their friendship has cooled since "Megxit." Mike Tindall was reportedly critical of Harry in 2022, and Zara acted as a buffer between them at a royal event.
Fitzwilliams cited Queen Camilla as one of the least likely to welcome the Sussexes, referencing Harry's memoir "Spare" where he claimed he and Prince William pleaded with their father not to marry Camilla. Harry alleged that Camilla later engaged in a "long game" for marriage and the throne, and that details from meetings were leaked to the press. Fitzwilliams stated that Camilla would not have forgotten Harry's personal attacks and is aware of the damage the feud has caused.
Prince William and Kate are also seen as unlikely to meet with Harry and Meghan. Fitzwilliams asserted that William feels "totally betrayed" and wants no contact, nor does Kate. Tensions between the brothers have been high since "Spare" was published, with Harry detailing a physical altercation with William and accusing him of repeating press narratives about Meghan.
Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, is also considered unlikely to meet with Harry. While he reportedly got along with both William and Harry, Harry was allegedly not invited to his wedding, and the two have not spoken in years. This strained relationship is partly attributed to an incident 18 years ago when Peter Phillips reportedly made a deal with Hello! magazine for the rights to his first wedding photos without informing the family, which reportedly angered Harry as he had planned to introduce his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy to Queen Elizabeth II during the event.