Prince Harry is reportedly reaching out to King Charles III and Prince William in a bid to mend their strained relationship by inviting them to the 2027 Invictus Games.
According to the Daily Mail, Harry plans to send an initial invitation via email later this month, followed by a more formal invite. The gesture is seen as an attempt at reconciliation with his father and brother.
A Gesture of Peace
“Harry has agreed that Invictus should extend an invitation to his family,” a source told the outlet. “The hope is that the royals will show up to support the injured veterans competing.”
The insider added that the Duke of Sussex is optimistic that King Charles might set aside their personal issues for the sake of the international sporting event he founded.
“The royal family has always shown strong support for Invictus and expressed pride in Harry’s achievements with the games,” the source continued. “This could be one gesture that is welcomed in return.”
Planning Ahead for a Royal Appearance
The early invitation was reportedly timed to accommodate the king’s busy schedule, which is usually booked up years in advance. The 2027 Invictus Games are scheduled to begin on July 10 and end on July 17—coinciding with Queen Camilla’s 80th birthday, potentially complicating attendance.
Notably, there are no Invictus Games scheduled for 2026.
While Harry supports the invite, Page Six confirmed that no invitations—whether for royalty, friends, government officials, or sponsors—have been issued yet, as the games are still more than two years away. The final guest list will be determined by the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 organizing team, not Harry himself.
Mixed Reactions from Royal Commentators
Royal experts have offered varied opinions on Harry’s gesture. One source reiterated, “The royal family has always been proud of Harry’s success with Invictus. This is one sign of goodwill from him that may be acknowledged.”
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward noted, “The king might attend as a way to show his support for the military and acknowledge Harry’s accomplishments. But his main concern is trust—he fears private conversations might be repeated, as they have been before.”
Seward added that this concern extends to other working royals as well.
Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl believes King Charles does want to rebuild ties with Harry and his family.
“The king absolutely wishes to maintain a relationship with his younger son and his grandchildren,” she said, referring to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. “He has a remarkable capacity to forgive and might indeed consider attending Invictus.”
Harry Still Open to Healing Family Rifts
In a revealing interview in May, Harry said he was “desperate” to reconcile with his father, now 76.
“[Charles] refuses to speak to me because of the security issues,” Harry told BBC News, referencing his legal efforts to obtain public protection while in the UK. “But it would be nice to reconcile.”
Harry and Meghan Markle have been distanced from the royal family since stepping down from their roles and relocating to California in 2020. Since then, the couple has given a series of explosive interviews criticizing the monarchy. Harry also shared intimate family details in his memoir, Spare, published in 2023.
Page Six has contacted Prince Harry’s spokesperson for comment.