King Charles May Offer Harry and Meghan the 'Ultimate Olive Branch' — And Andrew May Not Be Happy
Royal sources have alleged that King Charles longs for unity and is ready to bury the hatchet with the Sussexes.
Following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's many scandals, King Charles stripped him of his titles and ordered him to vacate Royal Lodge. Within a matter of months, his home of 20 years sat empty, and he was relocated to the Sandringham Estate. After the Epstein fallout, the King is now reportedly viewing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2020 exit in a different light — far less severe by comparison. Sources claim Charles is even considering offering Royal Lodge to the Sussexes, a move unlikely to please Mountbatten-Windsor.
In an article on his Substack, royal columnist Rob Shuter claimed to have spoken to various insiders who revealed that Charles was ready to let go of the past and let bygones be bygones. A source said of the King's alleged plans, "This would be the ultimate olive branch. Charles wants unity. Offering Harry a significant Windsor property would send a powerful message that the door is still open." The majestic 30-bedroom mansion vacated by the former Duke and Duchess of York now sits empty, with Charles allegedly wanting to put it to good use. According to Shuter, the residence is also "expensive to maintain, in need of serious repairs, and weighed down by years of controversy."
However, this isn't the beginning of a fairytale reunion! Insiders stressed that while the King may have good intent, Harry and Markle would not consider living in a home bogged down by controversy. A source argued, "The optics are tricky. Moving Harry and Meghan into Andrew's old house ties them to a property that's become synonymous with scandal." For now, the Sussexes seem content with their life in California, with no plans of moving to the UK. Still, an insider asserted that for Charles, his move would be "about keeping family close — geographically and emotionally. Whether they [Harry and Markle] accept is another matter."
In a similar vein, Charles has reportedly considered offering other such royal residences to the Sussexes, in an effort to reunite with them. Last month, a report suggested the King had offered the Sussexes accommodation at Highgrove House during the 2027 Invictus Games. As per the Daily Express, a source revealed, "There's a good chance that they [Harry and Markle] will stay at a royal residence during a UK stay that includes Invictus events if the current thaw in family relations continues." The estate is a relatively short distance down the M5 from Birmingham. It offers 24/7 armed protection along with a no-fly-zone bubble, making it an appealing option given Harry and Markle's security concerns.
Speaking of Charles's many royal residences, last October, The Mirror reported that the monarch had pictures of his distanced son and daughter-in-law scattered across Hillsborough Castle. One photo showed Harry and Markle smiling during their engagement photocall, while another is a family photo of them with Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton. Unsurprisingly, Mountbatten-Windsor was reportedly absent from the display, owing to his shady ties to Epstein.