Prince Harry is travelling to the UK next week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but despite inviting all his family members to the ceremony, it is not clear whether any royals will be present.
The Duke of Sussex will attend a service at St Paul's Cathedral in London but will not be accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. According to reports, no senior members of the Royal Family are expected at the event on Wednesday, but Harry is set to meet his father, King Charles, during his visit to England.
A source close to the royals claimed Harry, 39, has invited his family members, including his brother Prince William, 41, but got "no response" despite offering an "olive branch" amid tensions within the Firm. Now, a former courtier has criticised the Royal Family for "boycotting" the Invictus Games and "cutting off their nose to spite their face".
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Harry talks with wheelchair basketball players during the launch of the Invictus Games in London (Getty Images)The source told The Daily Beast: "Charles has made it quite clear he is ready to be friendly and supportive to Harry in his capacity as a private person, as his dad, but he is not going to throw the weight of the institution behind Invictus again. This all seems very logical inside the Palace bubble, but the trouble is that people who don't particularly care about such things, who are dimly aware that the royals spend their days visiting community centres and opening supermarkets, are going to wonder why they are boycotting this terrific charity that is headed by the king's son.
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"Many of us think this is a classic example of the royals cutting off their nose to spite their face, because Invictus is clearly exactly the kind of organisation the royal family should be supporting. If a bridge is ever going to be built [between Harry and the royals], Invictus is the bridgehead to build it from, and they should get on and do it."
Harry and Meghan attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 (Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)And a military source involved in the Invictus Games said Harry has made the veterans community "proud" after founding the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans, back in 2014. However, the source noted that the Games are lacking "proper royal endorsement" - adding that this has become apparent since the death of Queen Elizabeth II who had recorded a video promoting the Games, also featuring Barack and Michelle Obama.
The source said: "It was explicitly set up as an organisation endorsed by the royal family, but now it's not; it is stuck in this limbo. If Birmingham get it for 2027 the royals are going to have to send someone, so they might as well get it over with now."
While in England, Harry is set to meet his father, with the monarch finding gaps in his diary to meet his younger son. A source said: "Harry has kept in regular contact with his father on several occasions and made no secret of his desire to see him when he can. He has been especially concerned about him and hopes the King will be well and able to see him as planned."
However, one expert said that in his view, it is "highly unlikely" that Prince William will agree to meet up with his younger brother during Harry's trip to the UK - and it is for an emotional reason. The expert - Ingrid Seward, the Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine - explained that in her view, now is the wrong time. "It is highly unlikely Harry will see his brother after the insults Harry lobbed at him and Kate in print," Seward explained.
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