Are Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry missing another chance for reconciliation? According to British media reports, the Sussexes have been uninvited from the Royal Family’s summer vacation—at least for the most part.
It’s hardly a surprise anymore that Duchess Meghan, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, haven’t been invited to this year’s summer holiday with the Royal Family. A “well-informed source” revealed to the British “Express” that the Sussexes are not on the guest list for the trip to Balmoral, which King Charles, 75, Queen Camilla, 76, and others are planning for August 2024. As disappointing as this decision might be for the estranged royal couple, there is still a glimmer of hope.
Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry Will Not Travel to Balmoral
Along with the King and Queen, Prince William, 42, Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, and their three children will travel to Scotland for the traditional family holiday. “Harry and Meghan [however] will not be joining the rest of the royal family in August,” the anonymous insider told the British newspaper. They added, “The King wants it to be a happy family celebration, where the Royal Family members come together for a bit more than a week to discuss future plans and relax.”
Future plans and relaxation: it seems like the Royal Family prefers to do this without Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. Moreover, the “Express” is confident that the Sussexes were uninvited mainly due to the challenging months that Charles and Catherine have faced. They want to give the monarch and the Princess of Wales some stress-free time in August.
While King Charles seems to long for another meeting with his younger son, it’s not just the Waleses who are against it: Queen Camilla is also reportedly not keen on seeing Harry and Meghan anytime soon. Her feelings likely played a significant role in the vacation plans: “Charles is very protective of his wife, so he wanted to ensure that everyone agreed with the plans for Balmoral this summer.”
Remember: Camilla and Harry have never had a particularly good relationship; a detail that the Duke of Sussex highlighted in his memoir “Spare.” Even during his quick visit to London in February 2024, Harry reportedly avoided meeting the Queen at all costs.
A Glimmer of Hope? “Charles Wants a Better Relationship with Archie and Lili”
The fact that Harry and Meghan won’t travel to Balmoral may mean less stress for the rest of the family, but it also represents a missed opportunity for King Charles to spend time with his grandchildren Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. In recent months, reports have indicated that the monarch is not happy with his current relationship with the two Sussex children.
The anonymous source presented a new theory for the Balmoral holiday: “Charles really wants to build a better relationship with Archie and Lili and spend a lot of time with them. So, it’s possible that the Sussexes might travel alone at the end of the summer, just before the King returns to London.”
The timing would be well-chosen: if Harry and Meghan travel to Scotland later, the Waleses might already be back home. This way, a potentially tense situation between Harry and William could be avoided, and Charles could quietly spend time with his youngest grandchildren.
However, the insider concluded, “Given the current tensions, that is very unlikely. The most probable option is that the King will maintain contact with his grandchildren through video calls so he doesn’t lose track of what they are doing.”
