Since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working royals four years ago, their relationship with the royal family, particularly with King Charles and Prince William, has been strained.
Tensions heightened after the release of Harry's memoir, Spare, which divulged private moments within the royal family. The situation seemed to improve when Harry rushed to be by Charles' side following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year. However, hopes for a full reconciliation dimmed recently when Harry declined the King's offer to stay in a royal residence during his visit to the UK.
Royal author and historian Robert Hardman, who recently penned a biography of the King, believes the key to mending the relationship is to "normalise" it. Speaking at the Hay Literary Festival, Hardman suggested that Harry should bring Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Balmoral privately this summer for the annual Scottish holiday.
He explained: "Once that happens it's not such big news when it happens again. Then you start to get somewhere."
King Charles continues the late Queen's tradition of spending summers in the Scottish Highlands and inviting family members to join. Despite ongoing tensions, royal expert Ingrid Seward believes Charles will still invite Harry and Meghan, despite their security concerns.
"Harry and Meghan's security fears could well be a stumbling block to any kind of reunion with the royal family. But no doubt they have been invited to Balmoral this summer," Seward told the Mirror.
She added, "As the late Queen discovered, Scotland offers the only quality time a Monarch has to devote to family. It would be very sad if Charles was denied the pleasure of seeing his grandchildren just because of Harry's unfounded security woes."
