Prince Harry is hoping to stage a landmark public reunion with King Charles at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham — a move that could mark the first time the father and son have appeared together in public since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
Organisers of the multi-sport event for veterans are planning to invite the monarch to participate in either the opening or closing ceremony next summer, as well as to visit sporting competitions and meet competitors. The duke’s broader hope is that King Charles would join him at major moments throughout the Games, lending both personal and symbolic weight to the occasion.
A Public Reunion Years in the Making
The prospect of a shared public appearance carries enormous significance given the strained relationship between the two men in recent years. While Prince Harry, 41, attended the king’s coronation in May 2023, he did not take part in any public events during that visit and returned to California within 24 hours. Before that, the pair were last seen together publicly at the late Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations in the summer of 2022, and then again at her funeral that September.
The Birmingham event represents a genuine opportunity for reconciliation, according to a source who said the prince views the upcoming Games as critically important and is committed to making them exceptional, with his father’s attendance holding deep personal significance for him.
Highgrove Meeting Offers Fresh Hope
Harry’s optimism about the 2027 Games appears to have been bolstered by a recent private family gathering at the king’s Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. The meeting, which took place earlier this month, brought together Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, along with King Charles and Queen Camilla. It marked the first time the duke had seen his father alongside his own family in four years.
The reunion came during a week when Harry had traveled to the UK for the one-year countdown celebration for the Birmingham 2027 Invictus Games, held at the National Exhibition Centre. During a separate visit to Britain in July, Harry faced a dispute over accommodation at Buckingham Palace. He had publicly stated he intended to stay at a royal residence, but palace officials said he had not responded to the invitation in time. His representatives countered that he could only formally accept once alternative security arrangements had been made, following a decision by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) not to provide protection for his family.
Harry also suffered a significant legal setback when all 97 of his claims against Associated Newspapers — publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail Online — were dismissed in full, alongside those of his six co-claimants.
Key Figure’s Departure Could Clear the Path
One factor that may work in Harry’s favor is the impending departure of Sir Clive Alderton, the principal private secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, who is set to leave his post after more than two decades of service to the royal household. Harry addressed his feelings about Sir Clive candidly in his memoir “Spare,” and insiders have suggested the aide was among those with sufficient influence to discourage the monarch from accepting an invitation to appear alongside Harry at a high-profile public event.
Meghan Markle is expected to attend Invictus-related engagements in Birmingham when the Games take place. Harry had originally hoped his wife and children would accompany him during recent UK visits, but those plans were revised after the RAVEC security decision. The family ultimately reunited for the Highgrove meeting.
Harry’s UK Engagements Continue
Harry’s connection to Britain shows no sign of fading. He is due to return to the country in September for the annual WellChild Awards, a charity he has championed for 15 years. Reports indicate he and his family will have access to lodging at royal properties during future visits.
King Charles is said to be eager to spend more time with his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, who had not seen their grandfather since traveling to the UK for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Whether that growing warmth will ultimately translate into a shared stage at Birmingham remains to be seen, but those close to Harry suggest he intends to make every effort to ensure it does.