Should Harry and Meghan be invited to Balmoral this summer? Take our poll and have your say

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex having a successful reunion with King Charles earlier this month, royal fans are now speculating whether King Charles will invite the couple to Balmoral Castle this summer

After spending several years living in California following their dramatic departure from the Royal Family in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their joint return to the UK earlier this month. The Duke of Sussex travelled to his home country to attend an event in Birmingham, marking the official one year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.

While in his home country, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet flew into the UK in secret, spending several days staying at Althorp House. While in the Midlands, the Sussexes and their children met with King Charles and Queen Camilla for a private family meeting in Highgrove, marking the first time Charles had seen his grandchildren in several years.

No details or photos from the meeting have been shared, leaving many to believe the rift between Harry and his estranged family could finally be healing. This hopeful outlook has some wondering if Harry, Meghan and their children might receive an invitation to join the Royal Family for their annual summer retreat at Balmoral.

Each year, the King spends a number of weeks at the Scottish estate over the summer, with various members of the Royal Family dropping in at different times to enjoy a holiday together. Harry has previously expressed his love for his childhood summers at Balmoral, writing in his memoir Spare that it ranked among the places where he's experienced his greatest happiness.

Harry described the castle and its sprawling grounds as "simply paradise", likening it to "a cross between Disney World and some sacred Druid grove," as he recalled regular summer holidays at the estate with his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond is not so sure such an invitation will be extended, as she told the Mirror: “I think it’s still a question of baby steps as far as the reconciliation between the King and the Sussexes goes. Everyone is still waiting to see whether the privacy of the recent reunion at Highgrove will be honoured. So far, so good – no leaked details, no rumours of any photos being made public. And it needs to remain that way.

“But I certainly can’t see Harry and Meghan being invited to Balmoral when William and his family are there. Other family members would clearly have to be asked if they wanted to be there at the same time. The castle is almost a sacred place for the royal family. It is where the late Queen was happiest and where she died. It is the place where the family feels truly off-duty and relaxed. They can put their guard down, and they would have to feel that was still the case if Harry and Meghan were there.”

Jennie added that Harry has spoken previously about his fondness for the Scottish estate, and has shared how he would like Archie and Lilibet to learn more about their royal heritage. “So I’m absolutely sure he wants to show his children what it’s like one day – and it is an entirely different world to the one they know in California,” she said.

Royal author Ingrid Seward agreed, as she previously told the Mirror that the King could extend an invitation to Harry, Meghan and their children, provided Harry is prepared to agree to and abide by certain conditions. "Charles would get to say, 'Darling boy, of course come to Balmoral', and then because he's the King, he could let his aides deal with everything else," she said.

"They'd probably have to make them sign confidentiality agreements and all kinds of stuff - but Charles doesn't have to do it, he can sit there looking like the good guy. He has a private secretary and other staff to deal with all of the details. They'd have them buttoned up as much as you can button them up."

Ingrid went on to say that any Balmoral reunion would demand careful planning behind the scenes to prevent any potential clashes, stating: "I think the King would pick very carefully who was going to be there at the same time, and it certainly wouldn't be William and Kate. If it were, I'd be absolutely astounded."

Jennie Bond added that while a trip to the Scottish Highlands for the Sussexes this year might not be forthcoming, she believes there is potential for this to change in the future. She explained: “I think it’s unlikely that we will see Harry and his family at Balmoral this year. But if the baby steps keep on coming, Harry might get his wish to show his children the wonders of this magical Scottish castle.”