Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still “reappear” in 2024, despite the King needing them less and less, according to one royal expert.
The couple just spent their fifth Christmas away from the Royal Family – their fourth one away from the UK.
Despite supposedly claiming that they would “love” to join the royals for Christmas, Harry and Meghan reportedly turned down an invite to spend time at the Sandringham estate last year.
Along with numerous attacks on the family, via Harry’s memoir Spare, Meghan and Harry’s Netflix docuseries and their controversial televised interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, tensions have increased between both parties.
With the feud having peaked this year, royal author Ingrid Seward said that she feels the rift will “sadly continue” into 2024.
Speaking to GB News, Ms Seward continued: “Meghan and Harry need the King and his blessing far more than the King needs them, sadly, so I feel we will be seeing them.
“We’ll certainly be seeing Harry, because he’s got to reappear for some court cases.”
She added: “Harry’s been very clear that he doesn’t want to come to the UK unless he has the kind of protection he expects.
“Most of his court cases are ongoing, but in particular with the Home Office, he’s really put his foot down on this.”
Discussing a potential reunion between the King and the Sussexes, Ms Seward said that the King will want to see both his son and his two youngest grandchildren, four-year-old Prince Archie and two-year-old Princess Lilibet.
Due to the long distance, the King hasn’t spent much – if any – time with his grandchildren.
Ms Seward added: “Obviously King Charles wants to see his son and his grandchildren, and last summer he apparently invited them to Balmoral, which they turned down.”
Meghan and Harry announced their plans to step down as senior working royals at the start of 2020, with the couple citing their wish to “become financially independent” as one of the reasons behind their decision.
Shortly after announcing their plans, the couple made a move to the US – Meghan’s home country.
Meghan and Harry now live in a nine-bedroom mansion in Montecito.
Harry and Meghan have visited the UK on numerous occasions since stepping down, with only Harry making trips to Britain in 2023.
Back in May, despite tense relations, Harry attended the King’s Coronation – with Meghan opting to stay in the US with Archie and Lilibet.
