Prince Harry is hoping for a public reunion with the King at next year’s Invictus Games.
If the monarch were to accept an invitation to appear at the event in Birmingham next summer, it could pave the way for the monarch and his estranged son to appear in public together for the first time in years, signalling a major shift in relations between the pair.
It is understood that the organisers of the Invictus Games plan to invite the King to take part in either the opening or closing ceremony as well as visiting a range of sporting events to meet competitors. The prince’s plan could see the monarch join him at major events during the Games – or at one of the opening or closing ceremonies during the home event.
Harry has been buoyed by his recent meeting with the King, which took place earlier this month, alongside his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Prince Harry is hoping to convince the King to appear with him in public at the 2027 Invictus Games (Image: WWD via Getty Images)
The family gathering, which the Queen also attended, took place at the monarch’s Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, at the end of a stressful week for the duke. Harry, 41, recently visited the UK for the one year countdown celebration at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.
Harry was forced to find alternative accommodation after publicly stating he would stay at a royal residence during his week long trip, only for Buckingham Palace to deny him saying he had responded to the invitation in time.
The duke was also handed a devastating loss in his high stakes legal battle against Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail Online, when all 97 claims made by Harry and his six other co-claimants were dismissed in full.
Harry, who has lived permanently in California since he and Meghan quit their royal roles in 2020, had planned for his family to join him in the UK for the entirety of his visit, but was forced to alter arrangements when he learned he would not be granted taxpayer funded security.
Harry is due to travel back to the UK in September for the WellChild Awards, that he has supported for 15 years(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
However, Meghan – who was due to appear with Harry on stage before she pulled out of traveling to London or attending any public engagements – and the children did eventually reunite with him later in the week, when Harry managed to secure a meeting with the King.
The duke has been buoyed by the emotional reunion with his father, alongside his wife Meghan and their children, earlier this month for the first time in four years.
Sources have revealed Harry wants to arrange further meetings with the monarch to allow him to spend time with his grandchildren, who he has hardly seen since the Duke and Duchess quit their royal roles in 2020 and moved to the United States.
One insider said: “Harry’s intention is two fold. He would love the King’s support at the Games, while having his father by his side would also add considerable weight to his argument for security for his family to accompany him on the trip. “
Harry is due to return to London for the annual WellChild Awards in September, the charity he has supported for 15 years. It is understood that he will accept an offer from his father the king to stay at Buckingham Palace when he returns to Britain, marking a stunning turnaround from the last time he was in the UK.
The Mirror revealed earlier this month that Harry is to continue his controversial campaign demanding taxpayer funded security – paving the way for future visits with his family.
Harry’s relationship with the King has been strained since the prince left his royal role in 2020(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Sources close to the duke suggest his desire to have his father by his side at next year’s Invictus Games serves a dual purpose. Another source said: “Next year is a big deal for Harry. He is determined that the Birmingham Games will be the best ever and it would mean the world to him to have his father there.” Another royal source suggested the King “would welcome the opportunity to see his grandchildren again”.
Harry’s case against the Daily Mail was heard in court again on Wednesday, with the trial judge asked to rule over whether the duke and other household names have to pay millions of pounds to cover the costs of their failed legal action.
A group of seven household names, which also includes Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John, sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering.
ANL strongly denied the claims, which were heard at an 11-week trial in London earlier this year. On July 7, Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the claims in their entirety in a 436-page judgment and the cases returned to the High Court for a hearing on Wednesday over costs.
The Duchess of Sussex is keen on joining Prince Harry at next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham after cancelling plans to attend the event this year(Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
The court heard there was a shortfall between their insurance cover and ANL’s costs which are more than £34 million. After the trial Harry and Baroness Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, called the case “an obvious whitewash”.
Harry has since returned to California and is continuing with planning for next year’s Games. He originally launched the global event in London in 2014, with the competition aiming to challenge “perceptions of disability, champion adaptive sport, and demonstrate the resilience, determination and unconquered spirit of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans”.
It has since been held in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, The Hague, Düsseldorf and Vancouver-Whistler, Canada for the inaugural winter games in 2025.
In early July, Harry travelled to Britain to attend the One Year To Go ceremony, where he competed in a variety of sports alongside former Labour minister Al Carns and TV personality Alison Hammond.
Following his visit to the UK, Harry revealed that the Games will next be held in Daejeon, South Korea. The announcement means the event, held every two years, will be brought to Asia for the very first time.
The duke said he was “delighted” for the city to stage the sporting competition for its first time on the continent. The event will take place between October 6-15, 2029 in and around the Daejeon Convention Centre in Yuseong-gu. It will bring together 550 competitors from 26 nations, supported by 1,100 family members and friends in 12 sports.
Buckingham Palace did not comment.
