Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dealt fresh William and Kate blow amid 'UK return plans this summer'

Will the Sussexes be back in Britain in coming months?
Rebecca Carter

Prince Harry reportedly hopes that King Charles will invite him, Meghan Markle and their children to the UK this summer for a family visit.

Recent reports have claimed that the Duke of Sussex would like to spend some “family time” with his young family and his father at Sandringham this summer. Meghan hasn’t been back to the UK since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.

Meanwhile, it’s believed their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, haven’t been in Britain since the late queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Now, sources claim that Harry would welcome an invitation to spend some time with the king later this year. However, there are two family members who may not be up for seeing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at New York event
Meghan and Harry could visit the UK this summer (Credit: Janet Mayer/INSTARimages.com)

Prince Harry ‘hopes’ for UK visit with Meghan and children

A friend of Harry’s has reportedly told The Times: “If he was invited by the king, he would get a package of security that automatically kicks in. He’d like an invite to Sandringham. Would he go? It would depend who was there. If the king was to say, ‘Come up and spend some time with the family’, he’d love that.”

But it seems if Harry does return to the UK, he won’t reunite with his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Princess Catherine.

The couple have a country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate. If Harry does visit Sandringham, could he end up bumping into William and Catherine?

A source has now told the Mirror: “If the king was to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to stay with him, that is a matter for His Majesty alone.

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“The Prince and Princess of Wales’s position has not changed and they would not make arrangements to see them outside of them potentially attending an official public engagement.”

Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.

Harry’s relationship with his brother has become strained over the years thanks to his tell-all interviews, TV appearances and memoir Spare.

In Spare, Harry made an allegation that William physically attacked him during a disagreement about Meghan in 2019.

Prince William and Princess Catherine during state visit
William and Catherine may not want to see the Sussexes if they visit the UK (Credit: Cover Images)

Harry and Meghan’s security issues

According to reports, Prince Harry does face an issue with a return to the UK.

Last May, during an interview with the BBC, the duke explained that he would struggle bringing his wife and children to the UK without sufficient security.

The Prince and Princess of Wales’s position has not changed.

His comments came after he lost his court appeal over a decision made regarding his security in Britain. RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) previously made the decision to downgrade Harry’s automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK after he and Meghan quit duties and moved to the US. It was changed to a case-by-case basis process instead.

Harry told the BBC: “I can’t see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK. They’re going to miss everything, I love my country. I miss the UK, I miss parts of the UK.”

Read more: ‘Reason’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Australia trip could ‘worry’ King Charles

However, earlier this year, reports claimed that a risk assessment was taking place over Harry’s UK security.

A source added to The Times recently: “There is not a world in which he brings the kids back unless there is an enhanced security package around them. If the king wants to see the kids, all he needs to do is invite them over and it can happen. It is up to the king. Unless Ravec do the right thing independently of the king and decide he requires an enhanced package of security, so he can stay as long as he wants whenever he wants, and see his father with the children.”

Royal Insider contacted reps for Prince Harry for comment on these claims.

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