Prince Harry ‘Desperately Wants’ King Charles at Invictus Games—But a Family Rift Looms
The Duke of Sussex hopes for a symbolic reunion with his father at the 2027 games in Birmingham, but a strained relationship with Prince William could complicate matters.
- Prince Harry reportedly wants King Charles to open the 2027 Invictus Games alongside him.
- The games’ return to the UK raises the question of whether Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will attend.
- A strained relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William presents a potential challenge for a full royal family reunion.
- The outcome of a Home Office security review could influence Harry and Meghan’s future visits to the UK.
A private meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles at Clarence House last September hinted at a possible reconciliation, and now, sources suggest Harry is hoping to secure his father’s participation in a significant way: by having King Charles open the 2027 Invictus Games. The event, returning to the UK for the first time since 2014, is poised to be a deeply personal moment for the Duke of Sussex, and he “desperately wants Charles at Invictus,” according to reports from last week.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, are a multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans. An appearance by King Charles alongside his son would undoubtedly resonate with royal fans and shine a spotlight on the event’s heartfelt mission.
But the focus isn’t solely on the father-son dynamic. The prospect of the games returning to British soil also sparks speculation about whether Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will accompany Prince Harry. Having previously supported her husband at Invictus events, royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror she believes Meghan wouldn’t want to miss an event so close to Harry’s heart.
“Meghan is a savvy woman,” Bond said. “She must know that she’s likely to encounter a degree of hostility in the UK, but in the bubble of the Invictus Games she is safe. They love her, so perhaps that’s a reason she would come – to support Harry as she always has at Invictus. To stay away would inevitably become as newsworthy as her presence. The headlines would scream: “Proof, if it were needed – Meghan can’t stand the UK!”
Harry’s Invictus Games is being staged in Birmingham next year (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals six years ago and now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. Following a September meeting with his father at Clarence House, Harry reportedly left the UK with a renewed sense of optimism, with a spokesperson later stating he had “loved” being back in his home country.
That meeting followed a less positive encounter in February 2024, when Harry traveled to London following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis. It also fueled hope that Harry is considering more frequent visits—a prospect that seemed unlikely less than a year ago after he lost a High Court battle regarding his security arrangements in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex had sought to overturn a decision to reduce his security detail while in the UK, a change implemented after he stepped down as a working royal. Following the ruling, Harry publicly blamed his father for “this security stuff” and stated he “can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK.”
However, Bond believes the outcome of a Home Office review of the security decision could be pivotal. “If the security review results in the protection level Harry is demanding, there will be no obvious reason to prevent them coming over as a family,” she said. “And I’m sure King Charles would relish the chance to get to know his grandchildren.”
The King and Prince Harry in 2018 (Image: PA)
What remains uncertain is Prince William’s stance. The Prince of Wales attended the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014, but has not spoken with his brother since the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. Their relationship deteriorated significantly after the publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare, in which he offered critical accounts of Kate and detailed contentious arguments with his brother.
Bond suggests that supporting Harry could present King Charles with a delicate balancing act, as he would likely be hesitant to appear to favor one son over the other. “Invictus has become pivotal. It is Harry’s great cause and his greatest achievement and any father would want to support his son as the games come to the UK. But it’s not straightforward for the King – sadly for him, his family matters never are,” she explained.
“It could become a classic case of a father having to choose between his warring sons. We can only imagine how William might feel if Charles publicly threw his support behind the games and Harry. William has bitten his lip, risen above the accusations and knuckled down to the job, in spite of the brutal cancer diagnoses for both Catherine and Charles. To see his father stand on a very public platform and salute Harry’s achievement would be tough. But that’s the dilemma the King might face.”
Organizers of the Invictus Games have indicated they anticipate a strong royal presence. A spokesperson said last week, “The royal family have been longstanding supporters of the Invictus Games since its inception in 2014. While it is too early to confirm who will attend in 2027 as invitations have not yet been sent out, organisers of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 will issue invitations to members of the Royal Family in due course, and we would very much welcome their presence.”
The week-long event is scheduled to begin at the NEC in Birmingham on July 10, concluding on Queen Camilla’s 80th birthday on July 17. While this presents a scheduling challenge for King Charles, sources say planning committees are aware of the Queen’s birthday and hope he will still be able to attend the opening ceremony and other events while also fulfilling commitments to his wife.
An insider added, “Harry is across every detail of what is going on with Invictus. He is buoyed with the thought of opening the games with his father, and there are hopes that other royals will attend.”
Harry has previously described the games as a celebration of the “spirit of unity,” but Bond believes that even if the Invictus Games help mend fences, more private conversations will be necessary. “I think these issues are best worked out in private, so any reunion between the King and Harry and his family should take place quietly and behind closed doors,” she said. “It remains the most sensitive of situations and the King will have to take everyone’s feelings into account.”
