King Charles is reportedly open to repairing relations with Prince Harry and would make time to see him, Meghan Markle, Archie and Lilibet if the family makes a rare return to Britain next month.
If the Sussexes do travel to the UK together in mid-July, any meeting with the King would most likely be kept out of the public eye and held at a royal residence.
However, royal commentators say Queen Camilla could choose not to attend, while there is said to be “no way” the Prince and Princess of Wales would agree to share a room with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Palace officials are also expected to be cautious about the visit, amid suggestions Harry and Meghan could use the trip as part of another public relaunch, with reports claiming a Netflix film crew may accompany them.
“Cynics would say Harry and Meghan feel their star power in the US has faded and they now need a boost of royal magic,” royal biographer Phil Dampier said.
The visit would mark the first time in four years that Prince Harry has brought his family to the UK, coinciding with the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games for injured service personnel in Birmingham.
But not everyone in Harry’s family will be as keen to see them as King Charles, particularly his wife and eldest son.
Phil Dampier said: ‘The King wants a reconciliation with his son and wants to see his grandchildren. I think he will want to avoid a public meeting on this trip as it would turn into a circus, but would meet them privately.
‘But whether Queen Camilla is keen to meet is another matter. It wouldn’t surprise me if she has some family commitment to go to and avoids them. She will feel she was badly treated in Harry’s book Spare.’
He added: ‘There is now no way, however, that Harry will meet up with William and Catherine.’
King Charles will want to see Harry and his children – but Queen Camilla will be less keen, experts have said
The Prince and Princess of Wales are not expected to see the Sussexes (pictured together after the Queen’s death in 2022)
‘He [Harry] has been making it clear in recent months that he wants a reconciliation with his family, but how genuine that is only he knows.
‘Harry’s aim is to get him along to the Invictus Games as guest of honour next year.’
Mr Dampier also believes that the fact all four Sussexes are coming to the UK suggests that Harry has had ‘assurances’ they will get taxpayer-funded armed bodyguards.
‘No one knows what security arrangements have been made for Harry and Meghan’s trip next month, but the fact she is coming with their children indicates they have been given some assurances,’ he said.
‘It may be that security is provided on a case-by-case basis in future.
‘I don’t think taxpayers would want to finance their security full time, so this is a compromise.’
Royal commentator Richard Palmer says the Palace remains worried about Meghan and Harry’s motives for wanting contact with the Royal Family again.
Aides are concerned about whether to trust them, given all the secrets they have spilled since Megxit.
He said: ‘There remains a fair degree of suspicion within the Royal Household, and there is the fear that they will use any meetings with the monarch to try to boost their commercial brand. But against that, the King wants to have a relationship with his grandchildren.
‘If Archie and Lilibet are coming over, then I think it makes it highly likely that the Sussexes will spend time with the King. There’s a good chance that this could be the start of the family coming to terms with the rift and starting to try to rebuild relationships.
‘It may never be the same, but families can learn to move on and reach some sort of accommodation after these types of rifts. Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales may be more cautious about meeting. It may take more for them to be won over, but this could be the start of something.’
Prince Harry and Meghan with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a photo released by the duchess for the couple’s Christmas greeting in December 2025
Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have not seen their grandfather King Charles III since their last trip to Britain in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Duchess of Sussex has not made a long trip to the UK since the late Queen’s funeral that September, only stopping over in London on foreign tours.
She and Harry were booed on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral last time they were seen by the public almost four years ago.
Harry is said to be satisfied with security arrangements for the visit in mid-July and is now planning for Archie and Lilibet to make the trip from California.
One of his business associates in Los Angeles said there had been a ‘warming of the frost’ between Harry and Charles, telling the Telegraph: ‘Harry says he’s coming back before the end of the year with the children with the express intent to reunite with his dad.
‘He has wanted his kids to meet their grandfather, especially after their summit in London last year.
‘While there have been deep-seated trust issues, there is a sense now that all parties want peace.’
Harry, who stepped down as a working royal in 2020, levelled a barrage of accusations at the Royal Family in his Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix documentary and tell-all memoir Spare.
But in a step towards repairing their troubled relationship, Harry joined Charles for a private tea when he visited the UK in September last year, spending 54 minutes with his father at Clarence House.
It is not known whether Harry or his family will see Charles on the visit, though the prince will meet people from patronages such as WellChild and Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
A source close to Harry told News.com.au: ‘It’s been a point of great sadness that he’s been unable to bring his wife and kids back to the UK safely to reconnect with friends and family, but anyone would understand his desire to put their safety first.
‘He would love to introduce the children to his wider family, to show them the UK, where he grew up – his homeland. That would be a natural thing for any parent.’
The Daily Mail understands Harry and his family would not automatically receive enhanced security protection for a private family visit.
A spokesman for the Sussexes declined to comment.
