By Molly Claire Goddard
7:57am PST, Jan 22, 2026
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According to royal expert
Richard Fitzwilliams,
Prince Harry's reported request that King Charles III open the event will put His Majesty in an awkward position due to the Duke of Sussex's feud with
Prince William. "It is unlikely the King, who is undoubtedly keen on some sort of reconciliation with Harry and to see his [two] grandchildren, whom he last saw during the celebrations of
Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, would act in a way William strongly opposed," he told
Daily Express.
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Due to
Prince William's seniority, King Charles III will likely take his side. "The future of the monarchy lies with the Waleses and their family," Richard Fitzwilliams told
Daily Express. "The brothers [William and
Prince Harry] have reportedly not spoken in over three years."
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After years of estrangement following
Prince Harry's departure from The Firm, the potential reunion with King Charles III could be a make-or-break moment. "This invitation to King Charles to open the Invictus Games in Birmingham [England] is Harry's trump card. Invictus is his top achievement, and it is a charity so well regarded that it celebrated its first decade with a service at St Paul's," Richard Fitzwilliams said.
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Prince Harry's rift with
Prince William isn't likely to end anytime soon. "Their relationship is at an all-time low," a source told
Vanity Fair. "It's as if something has pushed William even further away from the prospect of a reconciliation. He is adamant that he wants nothing to do with his brother. He is more upset with him than ever."
