Prince Harry’s longer-term plans for Britain remain a significant pressure point for the Royal Family, with decisions around security, court cases and Invictus Games involvement creating what one royal commentator described as “a conundrum” for the monarchy.
Richard Fitzwilliams said the recent controversy surrounding celebrity photos should be viewed separately from the Duke of Sussex’s broader UK strategy, which he believes is more calculated and ongoing.
“Harry's plans for Britain are divorced from the mistakes they made on the Kris Jenner birthday party photographs,” he said.
“Now we know it was the Sussexes who asked them to be taken down by Kim Kardashian, and they should have known how that would play out.”
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Mr Fitzwilliams suggested developments around security could be key to Harry’s future presence in the UK, referencing claims that automatic police protection may be restored.
“I’m anticipating some very interesting developments,” he said. “Sources claim he will likely get his automatic police protection, especially since he's got a stalker, which is clearly very undesirable.”
He also linked Harry’s legal action against Associated Newspapers to what he described as a wider personal mission.
“Harry has got his case against the Associated Newspapers, and that's part of his campaign to supposedly, as he sees it, clean up and reform the British tabloid press,” Mr Fitzwilliams said. “He sees it as his life's work.”
Prince Harry UK plans creating ‘a conundrum’ for Royal Family
|GETTY
According to Mr Fitzwilliams, the Sussexes’ strategy may ultimately hinge on the role played by the King in future Invictus Games events, placing the Royal Family in a difficult position.
“What they are clearly banking on is putting the King in a position – will he or won't he open Invictus?” he said.
“We don't know. He could do it by agent. He could do it by video link. He could do it personally.
“But it puts the Royal Family in a conundrum: who would attend with him and so forth.”
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The Invictus Games will take place in Birmingham in 2027 | GETTYMr Fitzwilliams added that while the Sussexes’ public relations record had been mixed, it would be a mistake to assume they lacked a forward plan.
“When things go well, that's fine. When things go badly, it’s embarrassing,” he said.
“But they are not asleep. They have got a brand, and when they can get the message across, because everybody knows who they are, it’s ok.”
Prince William and King Charles at the Invictus Games in 2014
| PAHe also raised questions about future UK visits, including whether Meghan would bring the couple’s children, noting that public opinion remained divided.
“Some of it is obviously rather disastrous,” he said.
“But the other part, the one about Britain, has been planned for some time.”