Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly turned down an invitation to accompany her husband Prince Harry to the United Kingdom next month unless she receives an apology from the British royal family. This development emerges amidst ongoing talks about the tension within the royal family and conjectures about possible reconciliation efforts.
Insiders claim Meghan’s demand for an apology is rooted in past issues that, in her opinion, the royal family has not satisfactorily dealt with. This includes alleged racist comments about her and her son, Archie, made by unnamed royal family members.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, royal expert Tom Quinn stated, “Harry is interested in reconciling, but he fully backs his wife. He believes reconciliation remains unlikely unless the royal family treats her with sufficient kindness and apologizes for past actions.”
According to Quinn, Meghan is hindering Prince Harry’s attempts to engage in peace talks with Prince William and Kate, essentially preventing her husband from extending a peace gesture. This is despite the chance for reconciliation that appeared following Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
Reports suggest that Prince Harry aims to repair his relationship with his family, especially his brother, Prince William. However, without a significant gesture of goodwill from the royal family, the likelihood of reconciliation seems remote. The ongoing discord has been intensified by the Sussexes’ choice to step back from royal duties in 2020 and move to the United States.
Adding to the complications, Prince Harry recently lost a legal fight over his security setup in the UK, raising questions about his family’s safety during future visits to Britain. These concerns have contributed to Meghan’s hesitation to travel to the UK, particularly without guaranteed security.
The Sussexes’ strained ties with the royal family have been highly publicized and marked by a series of interviews and a Netflix documentary critical of the royal establishment. These actions have reportedly unsettled other royal family members, escalating tensions and creating a complicated dynamic within the family.
However, there have been attempts to bridge this divide. Meghan reportedly reached out to Kate after her recent surgery, indicating a wish to repair their relationship.
Harry and Meghan continue to meet their commitments independently with regard to public engagements. Meghan has been participating in charitable activities and recently unveiled a new lifestyle brand, while Harry is gearing up for the forthcoming Invictus Games anniversary in May.
No public response has been issued by the royal family in response to the apology demands, and the senior royals continue to fulfill their scheduled duties. The situation remains sensitive, with each side waiting for the other to make a move that could either pave the way to reconciliation or further deepen the rift.
According to Quinn, King Charles is expected to extend an invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join the royal family at Balmoral during the summer vacation. Traditionally, the monarch hosts family members at the Scottish Highlands retreat during this period.
Yet, Quinn has proposed that Meghan may not want to go on the journey, following her request for an apology from the royal family. In an interview with The Mirror, Quinn clarified, “Meghan and Harry believe that visiting Balmoral will disadvantage them, as it’s predominantly Royal territory.”
“And Meghan won’t want to go back on her public insistence that she will never return to the UK – she’ll only do it if she gets the apology she has always demanded, unless something really dreadful happens, either King Charles or Kate become gravely ill or even die. If that happens all bets are off.”
Quinn added: “According to people I’ve spoken to at Kensington Palace King Charles has hinted to Harry and Meghan that they should come to Balmoral in the summer to see if something can be done about the ongoing feud in the family.
