Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip to Nigeria is a strategic “cover” for not meeting King Charles, a royal commentator has said.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says King Charles not being able to meet Harry due to his schedule appears to be a “snub” and a “setback” for the couple.
It comes as Harry is visiting the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. He will then head to Nigeria with Meghan for another Invictus event.
Fitzwilliams claims Harry and Meghan have preemptively crafted a plan to mitigate the “setback” of not meeting his father, reports the Mirror.
He said: “Meghan has wisely decided that a hostile press and public would prefer her to stay away from the Service at St Paul’s to commemorate a decade of Invictus. Their visit to Nigeria is a cover for what is a setback.”
While Meghan will not accompany Harry in the UK, she is set to join him for their subsequent journey to Nigeria later in the month. The trip is expected to include engagements with Service members and participation in local cultural events.
Fitzwilliams further mentioned that despite Harry and Meghan’s carefully laid plans for recovery, it does little to cushion the impact of the apparent “snub” by his father.
“This will be seen as a snub. There is little doubt that this was not arranged as it should have been as King Charles has always made it clear that his door is open to Harry,” the expert claimed
The last time Harry and Charles have seen each other was when Charles was diagnosed with cancer and Harry quickly flew out to see him.
“Their meeting after the King’s diagnosis was extremely brief and we do not know how well it went,” Fitzwilliams explained.
Despite Charles’ condition, Fitzwilliams claims he understands the impact of this decision will be significant.
He explained: “The King has engagements and duties he needs to perform and has to balance these with treatment for cancer that must be deeply debilitating.
“The fact that they will not be meeting will, as all things affecting the royal family will, be worldwide news. If the royal rift is ever to be healed it will be when matters are less public and can be considered privately and less stressfully.”
As for Harry’s brother, Prince William, Fitzwilliams knew the chance of them meeting was even slimmer.
“There was never a chance of him seeing William, who does not trust him, and with good reason,” he shared.
While there are plenty of obstacles, Fitzwilliams does believe there is a path to redemption for Harry and Meghan.
He remarked: “If they were to mention the Commonwealth, of which it is a member, in a favourable light in a speech, this would be positive. They trashed the institution, Queen Elizabeth’s most important legacy, in their documentary Harry and Meghan.
“This was not well received as, when they were senior working royals, they were Commonwealth patronages by the late Queen.”
