And they lived happily ever after? But when? Peace in the Royal Family lasts only a few hours. First comes the announcement of a quasi-reconciliation between King Charles III and Prince Harry, then comes the immediate cold shower: the invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace is withdrawn, and the new chapter in the troubled relationship between father and son once again ends with nothing.
The day began with signs that offered hope for a turning point. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed that Harry, expected in the UK tomorrow for a five-day visit, had accepted the sovereign's invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace. This gesture was interpreted as the most concrete attempt in recent years to mend the rift that opened in 2020, when Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step down from their royal duties and move to the United States.
According to the plan, the prince would arrive alone in London, where he no longer has a state escort. For security reasons, Meghan and her children Archie and Lilibet would later join him for some appointments in Birmingham. But the happy ending was short-lived, and a dramatic U-turn followed. The offer of hospitality was revoked by the royal family. Rumors suggest the problem was related to timing: the acceptance of the invitation came too late compared to the arrangements made by Buckingham Palace, which would have required more notice.
An explanation that has inevitably fueled new doubts about the true state of relations between the Windsors. For years, in fact, every small gesture between Harry and the rest of the family has been interpreted as a potential sign of a thaw, only to be followed by renewed tensions.
The prince's spokesman confirmed that the invitation "has been withdrawn" and called the decision "disappointing," without commenting further.
Thus, what seemed like it could become the symbolic image of the British monarchy's newfound unity has turned into yet another chapter in a reconciliation that was announced and then immediately postponed. Harry will still arrive in the United Kingdom, but without the return to Buckingham Palace that, at least for a few hours, had seemed possible.
(Unioneonline/D)