King Charles III has reportedly "left the door open" for reconciliation with his youngest son, Prince Harry, but the same cannot be said for the Duke of Sussex's wife, Meghan Markle, whom a royal commentator has branded "toxic." As Prince Harry prepares to return to the United Kingdom for the Invictus Games anniversary event in less than two weeks, speculation is mounting about the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between the father and son.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun that while King Charles has always been open to maintaining a relationship with Harry, it does not necessarily guarantee a warm reception. "The King has always kept the door open to Harry, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he would invariably get a warm reception," Fitzwilliams clarified, adding that the situation has changed significantly in recent weeks.
However, the commentator emphasized that rebuilding trust between the royal family and the Sussexes will take time, particularly when it comes to Meghan Markle. "Meghan is toxic. I'm not saying the Sussexes would launch any attacks to the Royal Family at this sort of time. But what is very, very clear is that if they want to build trust, they have a long way to go," Fitzwilliams stated.
The royal expert also expressed doubts about the likelihood of Meghan accompanying her husband on his upcoming trip to the UK, citing the hostility towards her and the potential for her presence to overshadow the message of the Invictus Games anniversary service. "I never thought that Meghan would come over because of the hostility towards her here, but one has to emphasize that it's obvious from the opinion polls. And of course, you'd get a press that was far from flattering, but that is linked to the Sussexes behaviour over the last four years," Fitzwilliams remarked.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Meghan's attendance, Fitzwilliams believes that Prince Harry would undoubtedly want to see his father, especially as King Charles undergoes cancer treatment. "So far as Harry is concerned, yes, undoubtedly I would have thought he would want to see his father," the commentator noted.
The issue of security for the Sussexes during their potential visit to the UK has also been a topic of discussion. Fitzwilliams addressed this concern, stating, "We know security regarding Harry and Meghan and the children would be dealt with on a case by case basis, I would find it extraordinary if they wanted to see the King that there would be a problem."
The news of King Charles' openness to reconciliation with Prince Harry comes as the monarch prepares to resume his royal duties following his cancer diagnosis. The Palace has not yet commented on the possibility of a meeting between the King and his son during the upcoming Invictus Games anniversary event.
The relationship between the Sussexes and the royal family has been strained since the couple's decision to step back from their roles as senior royals and relocate to the United States. The tension was further exacerbated by the couple's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, in which they made several allegations against the royal family, including claims of racism and a lack of support for Meghan's mental health struggles.
