Sussexes unlikely to reunite with the Cambridges upon return to the UK, say royal experts

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are unlikely to meet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon their return to the UK this September, according to royal experts.

The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, are travelling from their home in California to visit two charities in Britain, as well as heading to Germany for an event to commemorate a year until the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

However, Prince William, 40, will want to avoid Prince Harry until he’s had a chance to read his younger brother’s memoir, according to royal biographer Angela Levin.

Elsewhere, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL that the rift between the Cambridges and the Sussexes is ‘very deep’, meaning a reunion between the couples in the UK ‘probably won’t’ happen. 

Ms Levin said that Prince William and Kate, 40, are likely to be waiting to see what Prince Harry says in his upcoming memoir, set to be released this winter, before healing any rift. 

‘[The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] are extremely busy at the moment,’ said the royal author. They’re moving home, need to settle their children into new schools. They’re very busy taking on so many more engagements for the Queen. 

‘And I don’t know whether William would like to make amends with Harry. I think it’s very difficult and certainly not before his memoir comes out because we don’t know what he’s going to say. 

‘[Harry’s] been very unkind and cruel so far. We have to wait to see what he does and maybe they won’t want to see them until all that’s out in the open and they know what he says.’

Mr Fitzwilliams also suggested a reunion in the UK in September is unlikely to happen, explaining: ‘I suspect that that rift is very deep, the reports are that they probably won’t.’

On September 5 the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Manchester for the One Young World Summit, which brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries. Meghan will give the keynote address at the opening ceremony. 

The couple will then head to Germany for an event to commemorate a year until the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf on September 6, before returning to the UK for the WellChild Awards in London on September 8 where Prince Harry will deliver a speech.

It is the first time the couple will be in the UK since the Jubilee celebrations in June, when they kept a low profile. They also visited in April, when they secretly met with Charles and the Queen on their way to the Netherlands.

Brothers Prince William and Prince Harry have not spoken face-to-face since they unveiled a statue of their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales last summer.

The Duke of Cambridge and his family are moving from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage, just a ten-minute walk from Windsor Castle, later this month.

If the Sussexes stay at their home, Frogmore Cottage, they will only be a short five-minute walk from the Cambridges, who will be just 800m away when they relocate to Adelaide in the next few weeks.

It will be the first time the two couples have been neighbours since Prince Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace in 2019.

But a source reportedly said the Sussexes’s visit will be focused on ‘supporting several charities close to their hearts’, and they have no plans to see the Cambridges. 

Editor of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward, told the Sun: ‘I don’t think they would bump into one another unless it was pre-arranged.

‘I suppose one could go round with some flowers as a peace offering, but remember what happened last time,’ referring to claims that Meghan threw flowers from Kate in the bin after a row over bridesmaids dresses before Harry and Meghan tied the knot in 2018.

It is thought unlikely the couple will bring their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, 14 months. Harry began legal action against the Government when he was told he would no longer be given the ‘same degree’ of protection here after stepping back from royal life in 2020.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment. But a source told The Daily Telegraph that the visit would come during a busy week with ‘lots of moving parts’. The couple’s spokesman said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are delighted to visit with several charities close to their hearts in early September.’

The UK visit comes just weeks ahead of Prince Harry’s expected book launch in October, written by Pulitzer prize-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer, which promises ‘to reveal a first-hand account of his life’ which is ‘accurate and wholly truthful’.

The couple are likely to want to spend time with the Queen after enjoying ‘barely 15 minutes’ with her during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer, according to royal watchers.

Mr Fitzwilliams suggested a meeting with the monarch would be more likely to take place in London or Windsor, either of which are close to the Cambridges, located in Kensington Palace.

He said: ‘It would only make sense for them to see her when she is at Windsor and when they are based at Frogmore, as they could only spend a very little time with her during the Platinum Jubilee.

‘If she does come down as anticipated, she may receive the new Prime Minister at Windsor or at Buckingham Palace. There would also be time for her and the Sussexes to discuss the future, which hopefully will be more constructive than the recent past. 

‘They also must be aware that some form of reconciliation in the Platinum Jubilee year would surely be beneficial for the image they want as philanthropists.’