Prince Harry’s latest attempt at reconciliation could place King Charles and Prince William in an uncomfortable bind, with royal commentators warning the senior royals risk appearing “petty” if they ignore his invitation.
The Duke of Sussex has reportedly reached out to his father and brother, inviting them to attend the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham — the international sporting event he founded in 2014 for wounded and sick military personnel. While the invitation might appear as a goodwill gesture on the surface, royal insiders suggest it’s causing turmoil behind palace doors.
Brontë Coy, royal correspondent for News.com.au, described the move as a strategic and emotionally complex gesture. “There’s a lot of sympathy, understanding and respect for the King and William’s position because I think anyone can relate — if you’ve been spoken about publicly, and had your personal issues with family members aired in that way, of course you would be angry,” Coy told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show.
Despite ongoing tensions between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family — fueled by his Netflix series, high-profile interviews, and the tell-all memoir Spare — the Invictus Games present a unique challenge for the monarchy. With its focus on the military community, which the royal family has long supported, the optics of refusing such an invitation could prove damaging.
“It’s in the UK and you’re talking about the military community, of which the royals are very, very entwined,” Coy continued. “You do run the risk of looking a bit petty if they don’t go and support it, given their position in supporting the military community.”
Former palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter echoed Coy’s sentiments, emphasizing the complexity of the situation. “It would cause a massive headache because you don’t just roll over, having been rubbished for such a long time,” he said. “There’s an equation to this, and the other half of the equation is Mrs. Sussex.”
Arbiter’s remark highlights the added strain Meghan Markle’s involvement may bring to the situation, given her own public criticisms of royal life and strained relationship with the family.
While Harry’s invitation may signal a desire to heal fractured relationships, royal observers agree that a true reconciliation remains far from certain. The decision by King Charles and Prince William to attend or decline could speak volumes about the current state — and future — of the royal family’s inner dynamics.