By Molly Claire Goddard
11:36am PST, Jan 27, 2026
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According to royal expert
Jennie Bond,
Prince Harry's reported offer to King Charles III to open the 2027 Invictus Games is at odds with His Majesty's loyalty to
Prince William. "Invictus has become pivotal. It is Harry's great cause and his greatest achievement and any father would want to support his son as the games come to the U.K. But it's not straightforward for the King — sadly for him, his family matters never are," she told
The Mirror. "It could become a classic case of a father having to choose between his warring sons. We can only imagine how William might feel if Charles publicly threw his support behind the games and Harry."
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Prince William and
Prince Harry's relationship has been rocky since the Duke of Sussex published his bombshell memoir
Spare, in which Harry accused his brother of physically harming him. "William has bitten his lip, risen above the accusations and knuckled down to the job, in spite of the brutal cancer diagnoses for both
Kate [Middleton] and [King] Charles. To see his father stand on a very public platform and salute Harry's achievement would be tough. But that's the dilemma the King might face," Jennie Bond said.
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While no members of the royal family have been officially confirmed for the July event in Birmingham, Jennie Bond believes
Prince Harry and King Charles III should stay focused on resolving their issues behind the scenes. "Any reunion between the King and Harry and his family should take place quietly and behind closed doors," she said. "It remains the most sensitive of situations and the King will have to take everyone's feelings into account."
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Despite
Prince Harry and King Charles III's potential reconciliation, the future isn't as bright for the 41-year-old and
Prince William. "William feels Harry has repeatedly chosen public exposure over private resolution and that the royal family can't keep being dragged into the headlines every time there's a new contract to promote," a source told
The Mirror. "Ever since moving to North America, they have eroded all confidence in their ability to keep things or their criticisms private."
