Prince Harry and Meghan Haven't Been Together in London Since 2022
If coverage of the Royal Family can resemble a soap opera, it is especially so when Prince Harry is in London.
There are narratives of brotherly conflict, a son seeking reconciliation with his father, competitive sister-in-laws, a grandfather eager to see his grandchildren, and now the question: will they or won't they be here?
All these storylines are expected to unfold as Prince Harry, and possibly his wife Meghan along with their children Archie, aged seven, and Lilibet, aged five, return to the UK this week.
A detailed itinerary for the visit was initially released, including the Duchess of Sussex; however, due to security concerns, she and the children will not be present at the start of the trip in London but may join later in the UK.
Determined Mood Inside Team Sussex
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently celebrated their daughter Lilibet's fifth birthday. Their son Archie is seven.
The purpose of the visit is to prepare for the Invictus Games and attend charity events. The five days of engagements begin on Tuesday in London before moving to Birmingham, which will host the games for injured military veterans next year.
Whether fairly or unfairly, the focus will be on family tensions and any signs of reconciliation between the Sussexes and their royal relatives.
The recent changes regarding Meghan and the children’s attendance may hinder reconciliation efforts. Palace officials likely find the situation challenging, but Harry has always been deeply concerned about his family’s safety.
If security issues are resolved and Meghan and the children join part of the visit, it will mark the first time the Sussex family has been together in the UK since Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, an event that seems from another era and reign.
Within Team Sussex, the mood appears determined despite the uncertainties. Prince Harry is reportedly looking forward to seeing friends and family and is committed to supporting his Invictus "second family".
However, drama and psychological tension often accompany the Sussexes’ appearances.
During this UK visit, the outcome of Prince Harry's court case against Associated Newspapers regarding allegations of unlawful information gathering is expected. This ruling could influence the visit’s atmosphere, although Meghan will not be in the UK when the decision is announced.
The visit will also raise questions about Meghan’s possible appearance later in the week and whether King Charles will meet his grandchildren.
On Harry’s previous solo visit in September 2025, attention centered on his private meeting with King Charles at Clarence House.
Currently, speculation surrounds whether the King, Prince Harry, Meghan, and the children will meet and if a family photograph will be taken to document the occasion.
'The Photo We Really Want to See Is with the Grandchildren'
Prince Harry with his father at the Natural History Museum in 2019. Will they meet again on this visit?
From the Sussex perspective, a family photograph would symbolize their legitimacy within the royal family. However, Palace officials may be concerned about how such an image could be used, wary of it becoming a commercial tool.
David Yelland, former editor of the Sun and presenter on BBC Radio 4's When It Hits the Fan, says "the politics around that photo are so complex that it almost certainly won't happen".
"The photo we really want to see is with the grandchildren," he says, but believes there would be too many disputes over the photo’s arrangement and control.
"You start to think about the negotiations between the two sides. Who stands where? Is Meghan in the photo? Where's the King? Is Camilla going to be in the photo?
"It would be easier to get a photo of Putin and Trump together after a meeting than it would be to get photos of these people in the same room at the same time," Yelland says.
Even without a photograph, a meeting seems probable if the children come to the UK, especially since King Charles, who faces his own health challenges, would likely want to see his grandchildren.
Prince Harry is also expected to reconnect with his maternal family, with speculation about a stay at the Spencer estate at Althorp.
This could include a poignant visit to Princess Diana’s grave, introducing his children to the island burial site of their grandmother, whom they never met.
Prince Harry Will Not Be Joined by Meghan and Children on London Trip
Harry and Meghan have accepted an offer to stay at a royal estate during the UK visit.
Harry has expressed that children should be an "upgrade" of their parents.
Meghan Remains a Polarising Figure
Meghan has not been seen in the UK since the late Queen's funeral, and her participation in this trip remains uncertain.
Public reaction to her presence is unpredictable, as any appearance is likely to be within a controlled, pre-planned event.
She continues to polarize opinion. A recent YouGov survey found only 20% of the public hold a favorable view of her, the lowest since 2017.
"There's definitely a sharp drop. I think she's also in the past talked about how she's one of the most trolled people in the world," says PR expert and When It Hits the Fan presenter Farzana Baduel, noting Meghan faces "the level of hate that is directed at her".
Winning over the UK public will require more than a summer visit, but this return might be a tentative beginning.
Meghan has campaigned on issues likely to resonate with the public, such as combating online harm to young people.
However, royal commentator Pauline Maclaran observes that the UK public remains largely unsympathetic and "probably somewhat unfairly" blames Meghan for the couple’s departure from royal duties.
"Everything she has done since the famous Oprah interview and the Harry and Meghan Netflix show seems only to fuel dislike of her," says Prof Maclaran. "I believe she was always in a very difficult position, coming into the Royal Family as a bi-racial American and an independent woman."
While fans of Harry and Meghan will welcome the trip enthusiastically, there is also a negative fascination with the couple, especially on social media.
"We talk about the amount of money that Meghan makes making jam, but a lot of people on social media on the west coast of the US are making a lot of money out of hate," says former tabloid boss David Yelland.
William 'Doesn't Think About His Brother'
A reconciliation between Prince Harry and Prince William appears increasingly unlikely. They remain on divergent paths, with William progressing steadily toward the throne.
"My sense is that the King wants to have a relationship with his grandchildren and so there is a reasonably good chance of some sort of family reconciliation on the back of this visit," says royal commentator Richard Palmer.
"But it's still a very different matter when it comes to Harry and William. I don't believe there is any relationship whatsoever between the brothers at the moment and little prospect of one developing," says Palmer, who has accompanied both brothers on trips.
"People close to William used to talk hopefully about time being a great healer. But as time has moved on, William has become more unwilling to reconcile with Harry. He tells friends he just doesn't think about his brother."
There are few indications of any improvement in relations between William and Harry.
Buckingham Palace has not commented on Prince Harry’s visit. The Palace appears to approach such visits cautiously, akin to an unpredictable neighbor calling by. They are expected to be polite hosts but not overly affected by the visit’s outcome.
There may also be some raised eyebrows at how much Harry’s UK trip resembles a royal visit, similar to the events he and Meghan sought to leave behind.
After moving to the US and stepping back from royal duties, they now seem to be returning and engaging in royal activities.
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