Prince Harry may have just set a clever trap for the royal family—one that could publicly embarrass King Charles and Prince William if they don’t play along. That’s the explosive claim from royal expert Brontë Coy, who says the Duke of Sussex’s latest move isn’t just an olive branch—it’s a potential PR bomb.
Harry recently extended an invitation to his estranged father and brother to attend the Invictus Games 2027, set to take place in Birmingham, UK. On the surface, it appears to be a gesture of reconciliation. But insiders and experts warn it could backfire especially for the royals who choose not to show up.
Speaking to The Sun, Coy explains the stakes are much higher than they seem. “I think this is such a difficult one. I’ve given this one a lot of thought,” she said, before diving into why this seemingly harmless invite could turn into a major royal controversy.
“There’s a lot of sympathy and respect for King Charles and Prince William,” Coy said. “They’ve been hurt. They’ve had deeply personal matters aired publicly by Harry. Anyone in their position would feel betrayed—and of course, they’re well within their rights to shut him down.”
But here’s the twist: the Invictus Games is a military-centered event, and the monarchy has long been deeply embedded in the UK’s military culture. King Charles is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Prince William has held numerous military titles and honorary roles over the years.
Refusing to attend a military-focused event hosted by a veteran like Harry could look, in Coy’s words, “a little bit petty.”
“You’re talking about the military community, of which the royals are very, very, very entwined,” she emphasized. “It’s going to look bad if they snub the Games—especially considering their public stance on duty, service, and unity.”
This puts the Palace in a very difficult position. If they accept the invitation, it creates a headline-making reunion that could fuel Meghan and Harry’s brand and photo opportunities. But if they decline, they risk appearing cold, spiteful—and worse, disrespectful to wounded veterans and the armed forces.
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As Coy noted, “I think it’s going to be particularly complicated and something that is going to be discussed a lot in the Palace.”
Royal watchers have already noted the chess-like maneuvering of Harry’s decision. After years of estrangement and bombshell revelations in Spare, the Oprah interview, and their Netflix docuseries, Harry is now subtly turning the tables.
By choosing an event that centers on service, sacrifice, and community, Harry places himself back in the role of a unifying leader—and dares the monarchy to either reconcile or risk looking vindictive.
Meanwhile, King Charles is already dealing with his ongoing cancer treatment, and Kate Middleton is continuing her recovery as well. That leaves Prince William in the uncomfortable spotlight, expected to hold the family line—but now potentially seen as the one refusing to rise above the feud.
The Invictus Games 2027 are still two years away, but the drama is unfolding now, and palace insiders are already debating how to handle the optics.
Will Charles and William attend and finally break the ice in this bitter family feud—or will they hold firm, even at the risk of looking indifferent to the very values the monarchy claims to uphold?
One thing is certain: Harry has just played a dangerous card, and whatever move the Palace makes next—the world will be watching.
