Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a rare family visit to the United Kingdom with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to bring their children to the U.K. in July, marking the family’s first trip there together since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. People reported that Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, will travel with their parents, but are not expected to attend public engagements.
The visit is being planned around Harry’s work with the Invictus Games Foundation and other charitable commitments.
It also opens the possibility of private family time with King Charles, who has had limited in-person contact with his California-based grandchildren.
The Visit Is Tied to Harry’s Invictus Work
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People reported that Harry will attend the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice at Chatham House. He and Meghan are also expected to take part in private meetings with the foundation at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The couple is also expected to visit Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre to mark one year until the 2027 Invictus Games. The Invictus Games Foundation says the Birmingham Games will be held in July 2027, with the NEC chosen as the venue for the event.
Harry’s U.K. schedule also includes charity work outside Invictus. People reported that he will visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital in his role as patron of WellChild and attend Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle as Global Ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
Archie and Lilibet Are Not Expected at Public Events
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People reported that Archie and Lilibet will travel with their parents but will not take part in public appearances.
Archie was born in the U.K. in 2019, while Lilibet was born in California in 2021. The children last visited Britain during the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, but they did not attend public events then either.
The Trip Could Create Time With King Charles
The visit could allow Archie and Lilibet to spend time with King Charles. People reported that Archie is believed to have spent only a handful of occasions with the monarch, while Charles has met Lilibet once.
The family is expected to stay across a mix of royal and private accommodation. The Times reported that Harry accepted an invitation from Charles to stay in royal accommodation during the visit, though the exact location has not been disclosed.
Buckingham Palace has not publicly detailed whether Charles will meet with Harry, Meghan, Archie, or Lilibet during the trip. People reported that the visit opens the door to a possible reunion, but no private family meeting has been announced.
Security Remains Part of the Background
Harry has repeatedly said he does not feel safe bringing Meghan and their children to the U.K. without appropriate security arrangements. People reported that a review by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, has not yet concluded.
ITV News reported earlier this month that Harry and Meghan were expected to bring the children to the U.K. for the Invictus countdown and noted that Harry had previously said he could not see a world in which he would bring his wife and children back without resolving the safety issue.