Prince Harry is reportedly set to invite his father the King to the next Invictus Games in Birmingham, which takes place in two years’ time – but one royal expert has sent a warning
Prince Harry has posed a direct challenge to King Charles with his latest ‘olive branch’ move, according to an expert.
It has been claimed that Harry plans to invite the King and other royals to his next Invictus Games in Birmingham, with email invitations set to be sent later this month. It would be the strongest indication yet that the Duke of Sussex wants to bring his family back together.
The next Invictus Games is being held at the NEC in Birming from July 10 to 17, 2027, and it is claimed that sending invitations soon would give Charles and the rest of the royals the best chance of attending. Just weeks ago, Harry revealed that he is no longer speaking to his father, but admitted that he would like reconciliation with him and his older brother, Prince William, amid their bitter feud.
But according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, if the King does indeed receive an invitation to the Games, it poses a huge dilemma. He told the Express: “He [King] is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Invictus is a major military charity. Also, as head of state, he is a symbol of national unity. If he accepts, he would be putting duty above what obviously is a painful public rift between him and his family and the Sussexes. It will be argued that that is his job.
“However, it might involve extremely serious problems for the Royal Family, who rightly do not trust the Sussexes. If the King accepted it, this would involve public contact with Harry and almost certainly Meghan and his grandchildren, Archie and Lili.”
He continued: “The invitation to attend Invictus represents a direct challenge to King Charles. Much will hinge on how he replies and what subsequently happens.”
The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family opened significantly following their interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they alleged a member of the family was concerned about their son Archie’s skin tone before he was born.
Then the duke claimed in his controversial memoir, Spare, that William physically attacked him, that the King put his own interests above Harry’s and that Kate and William were jealous of Meghan.
But Harry’s decision to speak out appears to have worsened the chances of an end to his estrangement. There are suggestions that the King, who is still being treated for cancer, and the Prince of Wales will fear more than ever that any conversation with the duke would end up in the public domain.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen when the games are held in the UK in just over two years if Harry will bring his wife Meghan and children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with him.
Last month, Harry lost his appeal against the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK.
Speaking at the time, he said the Court of Appeal decision means it is now “impossible” for him to bring Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to the UK safely.
In an interview with the BBC, he said: “I can’t see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point and the things they are going to miss is everything. I love my country and always have done…despite what some people in that country have done.
He continued: “So I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course, I do. I think it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.” A spokesman for Invictus said: “No formal invitations have been issued as preparations are in the early stages.”
