As Prince Harry prepares to visit the United Kingdom next week to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of the Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral, speculation is mounting about the potential for a meeting with his father, King Charles. The Duke of Sussex's trip comes amidst ongoing tensions within the royal family and follows the monarch's recent cancer diagnosis.
Royal expert Tom Quinn believes that Harry will make time to visit his father during the upcoming trip, despite the challenges in their relationship. "It's going to be very difficult for Harry to come to the UK and not visit his stricken father, King Charles," Quinn told The Mirror. He also suggests that the meeting between father and son will likely be longer than their last encounter in February, which reportedly lasted just 30 minutes.
However, the meeting is expected to be "awkward and difficult," with Queen Consort Camilla likely to be present as a protective and diplomatic presence. "Camilla is exceptionally diplomatic and good at dealing with difficult situations and difficult people. If anyone can steer comfortably through a meeting with Harry, Camilla can - which is why Charles will want her there," Quinn explained.
Despite the challenges, Quinn believes that King Charles will prioritize seeing his son, even in the midst of his health struggles. "Charles won't want to be seen to be avoiding his son even if the meeting is awkward and difficult," he said, adding that both Charles and Harry are aware of the public scrutiny surrounding their relationship and neither wants to be blamed for rejecting the other.
Prince Harry's visit to the UK is expected to be a lonely one, as neither his wife, Meghan Markle, nor any senior members of the royal family plan to accompany or see him during the trip. Royal expert Charlotte Griffiths told GBN broadcaster Patrick Christys, "No senior members of the royal family are going to be there. That's where his parents got married. It's going to be a very somber and senior event."
The cathedral holds both joyous and painful memories for the royal family, as it was the site of Charles and Diana's iconic wedding in 1981 and the location where Harry and Meghan were booed by crowds in June 2022. Despite this, Harry is expected to be "all smiles" as his "life's work" is honored in one of his home country's greatest landmarks.
Griffiths noted the significance of the event for Harry, saying, "It's a really important part of Harry's soul and the kind of thing he'd want his wife, maybe even his kids, by his side for." However, she added, "Meghan is leaving him there alone, and I just think he's going to cast a really lonely portrait of a man without his friends around him, without his family, and without senior members of the royal family."
The Duke of Sussex is expected to stay in a hotel during his brief visit, rather than in a royal residence, and Griffiths suggests that Meghan's absence may be due to the painful memories and awkward moments associated with her previous appearances in the UK. "If she was to come to the U.K., it would be really difficult. It would bring up terrible memories of the past for her and awkward moments when she was in various churches and things," Griffiths explained.
Despite the challenges, Prince Harry has expressed his desire to reunite with his family and his gratitude for being able to visit King Charles during his cancer diagnosis. In an appearance on Good Morning America, he said, "Look I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him I'm grateful for that."
