The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly feeling triumphant as she and Prince Harry edge closer to the royal circle – but the Princess of Wales is feeling extremely cautious
After celebrating her 45th birthday this week with what was reportedly a relaxed day surrounded by loved ones, Meghan Markle is expected to turn her attention back to family life in the US. The Duchess of Sussex, who lives in Montecito, California, with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, is likely to resume her day-to-day routine away from the Royal Family, according to HELLO!.
However, it won’t be that easy for Megahn to keep away for long. Amid conflicting reports over whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will join the Royal Family at Balmoral this summer, a well-placed source claims King Charles has invited the Sussexes to Scotland ahead of Harry’s planned appearance at the WellChild Awards in September.
The prospective Balmoral showdown has left the Duchess of Sussex feeling triumphant, but the Princess of Wales, by contrast, is feeling cautious.
Holding all the cards
The source told Closer, “To Meghan, this feels hugely symbolic. There was a time when it seemed unthinkable that she would ever be invited back to Balmoral or Buckingham Palace. It’s Meghan’s revenge on Kate, in a way. Her message to Kate is, ‘You’ll never win and you can’t keep us out.’ Meghan believes she now holds all the cards.”
The source explained, ‘Kate feels like the royal family is being hijacked and the last thing she wants is a showdown with Meghan. She and William don’t want to see the Sussexes welcomed back into the fold. They see them as troublemakers and people who can’t be trusted. While Meghan sees the invite as a triumph, Kate struggles with the prospect of sharing the royal stage once again.’
If the visit goes ahead, it would reportedly mark the first time Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, have come face-to-face with Prince William and Princess Kate, both 44, since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Last month, Harry and Meghan brought their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to Highgrove to spend time with King Charles and Queen Camilla during Harry’s visit to the UK. A Balmoral stay, however, would be a significant step towards repairing relations following years of family tensions.
The Sussexes stepped back as senior working royals in 2020 before relocating to California. Since then, they have publicly shared their experiences through their interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry’s memoir Spare and their Netflix series Harry & Meghan.
Among the most headline-making claims was Harry’s allegation that William physically confronted him during an argument in 2019 after describing Meghan as “difficult, rude and abrasive”. Meghan also challenged reports that she had made Kate cry in the run-up to her 2018 wedding, insisting during her Oprah interview that “the reverse happened” and that Kate later apologised.
Despite the passing years, the insider claims old wounds have yet to fully heal.
“Kate has worked incredibly hard to rebuild a sense of calm around her family over the last few years. The thought of reopening old chapters is naturally emotional. Kate feels like she’s losing control of the narrative. She just wants all of this firmly behind her,” they said.
The latest speculation comes after Meghan shared a series of family photographs on Instagram, including pictures taken in Portugal and at Althorp. Pictures showing Archie and Lilibet holding bouquets prompted some followers to speculate they had visited Princess Diana’s grave, while others suggested Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, appeared in the background of one image.
According to the source, there is also concern within royal circles about what Harry and Meghan may choose to share publicly in the future.
“Meghan sees it as taking control of her own story, whereas Kate feels it’s being rubbed in her face. Meghan is determined to do things on her own terms,” the source said.
Meanwhile, with reports suggesting King Charles hopes Archie and Lilibet will continue to have a place within the Royal Family, and that he has offered Harry accommodation at Buckingham Palace during future UK visits, discussions about the family’s future are said to be ongoing.
The insider claimed, “There are lots of conversations happening about the future. Everyone wants stability, but people have different ideas about how to achieve it. Meghan sees it as a sign that she and Harry haven’t been forgotten. She feels they’ve reached a point where people can no longer pretend they don’t matter.”
