In a move that has sent ripples across the royal community, Prince Harry is poised to make a brief return to the United Kingdom next month. However, the anticipated reunion might not be as warm as some might hope. The Duke of Sussex's relationship with his father, King Charles III, and brother, Prince William, appears to have reached a new low, with insiders suggesting that the familial bonds have "cratered."
Prince Harry's visit is primarily centered around an awards ceremony for the Well Child charity, scheduled a day before the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's passing. Notably absent from his itinerary are any plans to meet with his father or brother. In fact, the Duke is reportedly bypassing the private family dinner at Windsor meant to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II. This decision underscores the depth of the rift between the Sussexes and the royal family.
The strained relations are further highlighted by the fact that Prince Harry might need to opt for hotel accommodations during his brief stay. Frogmore Cottage, once the residence of Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, is no longer available to the couple following their eviction earlier this year by King Charles III. While the official reason for Harry's UK stopover is to refuel his plane, he is expected to spend approximately 24 hours in the country before heading back to his home in Montecito.
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will not be accompanying her husband on this trip. Instead, she is slated to join him for the Invictus Games in Germany. The Duchess has been clear about her reluctance to return to the UK, with one royal commentator noting, "The message from Meghan couldn't be clearer. She is never going to set foot in the grey, cake-filled, miserable U.K. again if she can possibly help it." Meghan is set to host a special segment during the closing ceremony of the games. Her last visit to Britain was for the state funeral of Elizabeth II in September 2022, and she notably declined the King's invitation to his May coronation at Westminster Abbey.
The ongoing tensions are not just a matter of royal protocol or media speculation. They signify deep personal and emotional rifts within a family that has been in the public eye for generations. For Prince Harry, the separation from his homeland and family is likely a source of profound pain, a sentiment that might not be fully shared by his wife. As royal expert Jan Moir opined, "In elevating his and Meghan's joint status and virtue by ruthlessly tearing down the legacy and reputation of the Windsors, he has reached this bleak point of no return."
The coming days will reveal more about the state of affairs within the royal family, but for now, the chasm seems to be widening.
