Prince Harry ’s plan to invite his estranged father and brother to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham has been seen as an attempt to make peace with King Charles and Prince William. But while Harry, along with wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, might be keen to thaw icy relations with the royal family, experts say this olive branch is unlikely to be warmly received by the Palace.
Given the Sussexes’ past betrayals – not least their history of sharing private details of family fallouts – our insiders believe the Prince and Princess of Wales are likely to feel cautious.
The move is seen by some as an ‘olive branch’ between Harry and his family -Credit:Getty Images
“One major concern is likely to be the fear of being exposed again,” royal commentator and documentary maker Lydia Alty tells OK!. “Harry and Meghan have a clear track record of publicly disclosing private family matters. From the Oprah interview to Spare and their Netflix series, private conversations and intimate moments have been shared – often to the family’s detriment.
“Understandably, Prince William may feel deeply betrayed, especially as Kate has been dragged into this narrative and seemingly targeted or misrepresented in ways that have hurt both her and the wider family.”
The trio were once dubbed the “Fab Three” -Credit:Getty Images
The Princess of Wales, 43, was at the centre of a number of Harry and Meghan’s bombshell disclosures, notably during the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, in 2021 where Meghan, also 43, claimed Kate had made her cry during a conversation about a bridesmaid’s dress in the run-up to the Sussexes’ wedding.
Two years later, in his tell-all memoir Spare, Harry, 40, recounted a number of private conversations and alleged arguments between himself and his brother and sister-in-law.
As well as claims that William branded Meghan “rude” and “abrasive”, he alleged his brother and Kate encouraged him to wear his ill-advised Nazi costume to a party in 2005.
Given their history of spilling secrets, Lydia believes William and Kate will be cautious about attempts to build bridges.
Experts suggest William and Kate might be reluctant to get close to Harry and Meghan again -Credit:Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror
“When trust is repeatedly broken, it’s understandable that the response is distance, not reconciliation,” she says.
Kinsey Schofield, a Los Angeles-based royal commentator, says the Sussexes’ behaviour has made them a “liability” to The Firm. And the timing couldn’t be worse, given both the King and Kate’s recent cancer battles.
“It’s clear the [royal] family values its privacy and is focused on resting and healing in peace,” she tells us. “Meanwhile, Prince Harry continues to stir up drama and instigate conflict. There’s a fear that if he were entrusted with sensitive health information, it could be leaked.
“For the royals, keeping their distance from Harry isn’t about pettiness – it’s about protecting their mental health and preserving their peace.”
Kinsey says Kate and William want to protect their peace -Credit:PA
Kinsey suggests much of William’s hurt is rooted in the effect Harry’s actions have had on Kate, who Harry once described as “the sister I’ve never had and always wanted”.
“Harry has escalated tensions by targeting William’s wife,” she says. “That’s the real betrayal.”
And, just weeks after Harry spoke of “reconciliation” during a BBC interview, Meghan risked reigniting the feud when she alluded to a “lie” on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast.
Asked how she’d rewrite her “public narrative”, Meghan said she’d “ask people to tell the truth”. Without providing specifics, she told podcaster Emma, “A lie can’t live forever”, adding, “eight years is a long time, but not forever”.
Meghan referred to a long-running ‘lie’ in her podcast interview -Credit:The Jamie Kern Lima Show
This led to fevered speculation as to what the lie could be, and who might be involved.
According to Kinsey, who hosts the To Di For Daily podcast, Meghan’s comments will have done little to allay Palace fears.
“That podcast response wasn’t empowering – it reeked of bitterness and resentment,” she tells us. “At some point, you must let it go and move on.
“But Meghan seems stuck in the past, always pointing fingers instead of taking responsibility.”
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