Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s plan to reunite Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with King Charles appears to be going ahead. It was announced last week that Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would not join the Duke of Sussex in London due to concerns over security.
But there was no confirmation over whether Harry, 41, would be joined by his wife and children outside the capital. It was reported on Thursday (July 9) that Meghan, 44, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will visit the UK this week, but they will not make any public appearances. Chris Ship, royal editor at ITV, tweeted that the visit would only consist of “private family events, away from cameras.”
The upcoming visit of Meghan and the children, therefore, paves the way for the family of four to meet the King in private. If they do come to Britain, it will be the first time Meghan and the younger Sussexes have visited in four years. He has only met Lily once before.
The Duchess of Sussex had originally been due to appear alongside her husband at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Wednesday, but Harry made a solo visit.
Meghan was also absent as the Duke visited a children’s hospital in Birmingham on Thursday (July 9).
It has been widely reported that the Duchess will also not appear at the National Exhibition Centre tomorrow to mark the one year countdown to the Invictus Games.
The last time they were in the country together was for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the late Queen, Elizabeth II in June 2022.
Harry has carried out a number of engagements since his arrival on Monday, some of which were behind closed doors.
He held private meetings without media present at the Royal Hospital Chelsea after his High Court defeat against the Daily Mail publisher the day before.
Plans for media coverage changed the day before and the decision was attributed to the heatwave.