Amanda Platell: Why King Charles Accepting Prince Harry’s Invictus Invitation Would Be a Grave Betrayal

Writing for the Daily Mail, columnist Amanda Platell warns that King Charles faces a critical choice, arguing that accepting Prince Harry’s invitation to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham would be a “grave mistake” and a betrayal of the British public.

The Background: An “Olive Branch” or a Cynical Ploy?

Weeks after King Charles was reunited with his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, at Highgrove for the first time in four years, Prince Harry has reportedly extended an invitation for his father to join him at the 2027 Invictus Games. While royal insiders note Harry is “hopeful” the King will accept, critics argue the gesture is far from a genuine olive branch.

Platell argues that the invitation is a calculated move designed for personal and financial gain:

• The Optics: While a solo appearance by Harry at the Birmingham games might struggle to go viral, photos alongside King Charles would guarantee massive global media coverage.

• Fading Influence: Following the collapse of their Spotify deal—where an executive labeled them “grifters”—and struggling multi-million dollar Netflix ventures, critics claim the Sussexes are attempting to boost their dwindling social media profile and money-making capacity in America.

• Misreading the Room: Platell notes that an hour-long meeting at Highgrove on July 10 has reportedly “buoyed up” Harry’s hopes for a broader reconciliation, but warns that public sentiment remains deeply hostile.

Testing the Loyalty of the British Public

The core argument against the King’s attendance rests on the loyalty shown by the British public during the height of the Sussexes’ rift with the monarchy.

Platell emphasizes that millions of monarchists stood steadfastly by Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles while Harry and Meghan publicly criticized the institution. She recalls how the final years of the late Queen’s life were strained—forcing her to reject the couple’s “half-in, half-out” proposal—and points to the damaging racism claims leveled against the royal family during the 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview.

For these reasons, supporters argue that putting fatherhood before institutional duty would alienate the subjects who stood by the crown.

The King’s Position and the Palace Response

King Charles currently sits at his highest-ever approval rating, with 68 percent of the British public considering the 77-year-old monarch—who is still undergoing cancer treatment—to be performing well.

Buckingham Palace’s official response to the Invictus invitation offered a measured diplomatic stance: ‘The King would welcome the opportunity to see his grandchildren again.’

While acknowledging that His Majesty is naturally desperate to spend more time with Archie and Lilibet, Platell concludes that publicly endorsing a son who spent years attacking his own family would risk squandering the public goodwill the King has worked hard to maintain.