Despite putting on the bravest of faces outwardly, New Idea has learnt the Duchess of Sussex is struggling to deal with the lacklustre reception to her latest podcast offering and ongoing criticisms about her As Ever products.
But last week, Meghan, 43, was dealt another blow, this time closer to home, when her husband, the Duke of Sussex, gave his clearest signal yet that he intends to try and reconcile with the royal family – whether she likes it or not.
According to the Mail On Sunday, Prince Harry, 40, plans on inviting his estranged father, King Charles and older brother, the Prince of Wales, to join him at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, UK. It’s a move that has “blindsided” Meghan, a source tells New Idea.
“Harry’s already sent them an email and a formal invitation is on its way,” the source spills. “And word is Meghan was completely blindsided by Harry’s move.
“She knows he wants to patch things up with his family, but she had no idea he was this serious about it. She’s upset. Badly.
“In her mind, she and Harry were done [with the royals] because they both know that any reconciliation with his father or brother will almost certainly be on the condition that it excludes her. So, she’s not happy that Harry has gone ahead and invited them anyway.”
While 2027 might seem a long time away, Harry has reached out now to give Charles, Prince William and their aides ample time to diarise the dates. But one hitch to this plan could be that the 2027 Invictus Games are being held between July 10 and 17. Queen Camilla’s 80th birthday falls on July 17 – the same day as the Invictus Closing Ceremony.
“If, by then, things are still tense between Harry and Charles and William, Camilla’s birthday gives them the perfect get-out excuse,” our source explains. “That’s if they even consider attending.”
But despite there being no guarantee yet that either Charles, 76, or Wills, 43, will attend Invictus, Meghan’s still shocked Harry went ahead and formally invited them anyway.
“He talked about it with her, but she didn’t think he was serious,” our source explains. “She wasn’t happy when she read news reports about the invitation online.
“She knows Harry is trying to publicly ‘guilt’ Charles and William into attending, because it makes it look like he’s the one doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to reconciling, but Meghan thinks his move is going to backfire.”
Meghan is also concerned that if neither Charles nor William publicly – or privately – respond to Harry’s invitation, he’ll be hurt and humiliated, and she’ll have to pick up the pieces.
“So not only is she upset at how he’s lined himself up for more humiliation at the hands of his family, he’s also left her out of his plans,” the source explains. “She thought he’d given up on a reconciliation after Charles ignored his recent BBC interview in which he mentioned he wanted to reconnect. They were moving on – or so she thought.”
Harry’s actions have left Meghan wondering if she’s underestimated how much her husband wants to be welcomed back into the royal family. Our source says it’s causing all kinds of difficult conversations between them.
“Meghan has made it clear to Harry that a return to Britain will not include her and the kids, until they get the security they want,” says the source. “As a result, things are a bit tense in Montecito right now.”
