Prince Harry is reportedly preparing to extend a significant olive branch to his father, King Charles, and other senior members of the Royal Family, but experts suggest the gesture could create a challenging situation for the monarch.
According to The Express, Prince Harry plans to invite King Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other senior royals to the next Invictus Games, which are scheduled to take place in Birmingham in July 2027. The move is seen by some as an effort to repair fractured ties between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams weighed in on the invitation’s implications, writing, “It has been reported that he will invite the King and senior royals to the forthcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027.” He added, “This invitation, which will apparently be sent shortly, will undoubtedly be seen as a gesture of reconciliation by the Sussexes.”
However, Fitzwilliams noted that the gesture might carry strategic undertones. “This clearly places the King in an extremely difficult position, which is precisely what it is meant to do and probably why the venue was chosen,” he stated.
Fitzwilliams explained that King Charles holds several symbolic and practical roles that tie him closely to the Invictus Games. “He 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,” he said.
The royal expert pointed out the dilemma facing the King: “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.”
While Harry appears open to reconciliation, the same cannot be said for his brother and sister-in-law. “From what we know now, it would seem certain that William and Catherine would not attend. The photo opportunities that transpired would be of immeasurable use to the Sussexes’ brand,” Fitzwilliams remarked. Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and relocated to the United States.
Since then, tensions with the Royal Family have escalated, following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, and the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare, in which the couple aired serious grievances, including allegations of racism and mistreatment. The Invictus Games invitation could be a step toward mending fences, but it also risks placing the monarchy at the center of a very public balancing act.