Harry’s Invictus Invitation to Charles Could Become ‘Another Media Circus,’ Warns Expert
Prince Harry’s attempts at reconciliation are now out in the open, and his latest move may be his most delicate yet. An invitation for the Invictus Games in 2027, extended in hope and framed around a cause close to both their hearts, has instead raised fresh questions about the risk and timing involved. At the centre of it all is an important event, and a father-son relationship that remains publicly unresolved.
Harry is said to have invited King Charles to attend the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, an event the Duke founded to support wounded and injured service personnel. On paper, the idea appears very special, and the kind of event any King would be proud to partake in. The King is, of course, associated with the Armed Forces, and Invictus has long been positioned as a non-political, service-led initiative. Yet, behind palace walls, the invitation is understood to be far more complicated than it seems.
Royal author and Royal Holloway professor Pauline Maclaran believes the issue is of perception. While there has been speculation that the King could not attend a privately founded event without breaching royal neutrality, Maclaran dismisses that argument outright. “It would be particularly appropriate for Charles to attend as Head of the British Armed Forces, and his strong support for the military is well-known,” she said. The real problem, she suggests, lies elsewhere.
Harry’s hope is not merely to have his father in the audience, but to see him publicly aligned with Invictus; potentially even sharing the stage. And that, Maclaran warns, comes with consequences the Palace would be keen to avoid. “I think this will be difficult for the King because of all the media interest which will focus on his relationship with Harry,” she explained. Any appearance by Charles, however well-intentioned, would inevitably shift attention away from the competitors and onto the unresolved tensions within the royal family.
That risk, she added, extends beyond the Palace. “This attention risks detracting from the mission of the Invictus Games, and the organizers are likely to be very wary of this becoming another media circus between the Sussexes and the royals.”
Maclaran believes there is only one scenario in which the King’s attendance would not dominate headlines, and it hinges on progress well before the opening ceremony. “I think the only way this could be avoided would be if the relationship between the King and his son could be repaired in advance of the games, so it’s no longer provoking speculation and gossip.”Harry’s intentions, by most accounts, appear genuine. Those close to the Duke suggest he sees Invictus not only as his proudest legacy, but also as neutral ground, a space where shared values might succeed, but clearly, good intentions, in this case, may not be enough.
The Invictus Games are held every two years, with the Birmingham event scheduled for 2027. Long before that, however, there are opportunities for diplomacy. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are expected to be in the UK this summer for the one-year-to-go Invictus celebrations, a visit that could offer a less public setting for father and son to reconnect.