According to reports, Prince Harry wants his father, King Charles, at the Invictus Games in Birmingham, England, 2027. Potentially even having the King help open the event.
This is a huge gesture and a spotlight move according to Entertainment Daily and Geo.tv. It’s a genuine olive branch in a storyline that’s heavy on Royal Family division.
However, this isn’t the full picture, as it appears the heir to the throne, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is not exactly 100% encouraging.
According to Reality Tea, a royal expert thinks King Charles may reject the invite for one main reason, Prince William.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said Prince William is the “only major obstacle” if the King accepts. The Prince of Wales would likely oppose any big unity moment after the many years of tension and criticism tied to Harry’s break from the Royal Family.
The Invictus Games
The Invictus Games wouldn’t just be another public appearance in this scenario, as Prince Harry launched Invictus in 2014, and the event has long been framed as one of his proudest achievements.
The games are built around wounded, injured, and sick service members and veterans. That gives the invitation extra weight and importance. So declining it may look complicated from a public-relations angle.
The Royal expert added that “the future of the monarchy lies with the Waleses and their family,” while also noting reports that Princes William and Harry haven’t spoken in over three years.
This is the heart of the problem. Even if their father wants peace, he can’t ignore the heir.
Hear say and rumors
This is where the story gets even more leveraged by hear say and rumors. Geo.tv says that Prince William’s camp is already nervous about King Charles entertaining Prince Harry’s plans.
The allegation is that friends of William have described the invite as a manipulation tactic and that the King’s team should shut it down before the media whip it up into a storm (too late for that).
On the flipside, reports say that Harry allegedly wants something big and visual. With Entertainment Daily reporting that insiders claim Harry wants Charles right by his side and even on stage for the opening.
Here’s the main takeaway getting lost in these reports. A spokesperson for the Invictus Games has already said it’s too early to confirm who will attend in 2027. As invitations are a long way off, this public family tug-of-war may actually be racing ahead of the paperwork.
When things went wrong
The Royal tension between brothers and father began in 2020, when Harry and Meghan stepped away. What followed was years of public interviews, including Harry’s memoir Spare in 2023. All of which has led to a level of distrust.
However, there has also been a softer turn recently, with Harry speaking about reconciliation and even a reported face-to-face meeting with his father at Clarence House in September 2025.
When I was growing up, famous families often had drama, but it rarely played out so publicly.
Regardless, Birmingham, England, July 10 to July 17, 2027 is set firmly on the calendar. And it leaves plenty of runway for leaks, counter-leaks, and more Royal Family drama.