Harry’s plan for rare public appearance with King
King Charles and Harry last spent time together in public at the late queen's funeral. Photo: AP
Prince Harry wants his father King Charles to stand alongside him in a rare public appearance at next year’s Invictus Games, according to reports.
The Games were founded by the Duke of Sussex in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women from around the world, with the next event set to take place in just under 12 months in Birmingham, England.
Organisers plan to invite the King to take part in the opening or closing ceremony, according to UK tabloid The Mirror, which quoted a source as saying “Harry’s intention is twofold”.
“He would love the King’s support at the Games, while having his father by his side would also add considerable weight to his argument for security for his family to accompany him on the trip,” they said.
The Duke and King Charles have rarely been seen in public together since Harry quit his role as a senior working royal in 2020 and moved to California with wife Meghan, The family rift deepened after the publication in 2023 of Harry’s memoir, Spare.
However, Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the couple and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, at Highgrove Estate last month during their visit to the UK.
Although Harry was said to be at loggerheads with Buckingham Palace over his accommodation and security arrangements, The Mirror claimed he was buoyed by the “emotional reunion” with his father, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.
The Duke also reportedly wants Charles to have the opportunity to spend more time with his grandchildren – whom he hadn’t seen for four years before their latest visit.
During his trip to the UK, which coincided with him losing his final lawsuit over privacy invasion claims against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Harry spent time promoting the Invictus Games.
More than 500 competitors from 25 countries will take part in the event next July, with another source quoted by The Mirror saying next year was a “big deal” for Harry.
“He is determined that the Birmingham Games will be the best ever and it would mean the world to him to have his father there.”
Harry made a brief appearance at the King’s coronation in May 2023, and before that the pair appeared together in public at the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
The Duke is expected to return to England for a charity awards event in September, at which time UK media claims he will accept an offer from Charles to stay at Buckingham Palace.
While the unconfirmed reports seem to offer further evidence of a reconciliation between the King and Harry, some commentators suggest it has driven a wedge between Charles and his eldest son, heir-to-the-throne William.
–with AAP
Want to see more stories from The New Daily in your Google search results?
- Click here to set The New Daily as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "The New Daily". That's it.
