Is Queen Camilla to blame for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Balmoral snub?
EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited to the Royal Family's gathering at Balmoral this summer, but might meet King Charles later when the rest of the Firm has left the estate.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited to join the rest of the Royal Family at Balmoral this summer but could meet King Charles when other members of the Firm have left the Scottish estate.
A source told Express.co.uk earlier that despite reports that the Sussexes will make an appearance at Balmoral this summer it is highly unlikely.
The insider claims that the reason could be due to the Duke of Sussex's rather fractured relationship with Queen Camilla.
"The King was very keen to keep everyone happy during the Balmoral stay this year," said the source.
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"Charles and Kate have gone through a very difficult year, so it was time for everyone to come together to celebrate the progress made and keep things in a positive mindset.
"Charles is also very protective of his wife [Queen Camilla] so he wanted to ensure that everyone was comfortable with the plans put forward for Balmoral this summer."
Express.co.uk revealed in May that the reason King Charles failed to meet with Prince Harry during his last visit to the UK was because he was told the Queen must be present.
Buckingham Palace and the Sussex camp had been trying to thrash out the logistics for a place and time to meet during Harry’s visit to London in the days leading up to his trip to London for the Invictus Games 10th anniversary service at St. Paul's Cathedral.
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Discussions focused on holding a meeting on the fringes of the Buckingham Palace Garden Party on May 8 – the same day Harry attended the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service. However, talks fell through after the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
"There will be no compromises anymore," said the source.
"Harry will have to play to their [Royal Family's] tune and not the other way round."
Prince Harry famously labelled Queen Camilla a "wicked stepmother" in his book Spare which was said to have infuriated King Charles.
Express.co.uk exclusively revealed earlier today that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been invited to Balmoral to join the rest of the Royal Family this summer.
According to a well-placed source, the Sussexes have been left off the official guest list for the Firm's August summit so that King Charles, 75, and Kate, Princess of Wales, 42, can enjoy family time following a difficult year.
"Harry and Meghan will not be joining the rest of the Royal Family in August," said the source.
"The King is keen for it to be a happy family occasion which will see members of the Royal Family come together for just over a week to discuss plans for the future and to unwind.
"The Sussexes will not be part of that meeting but may join the King at a later date when the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family have left."
However, the source added that King Charles is keen to build a better relationship with his grandchildren, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
"Charles really does want to build a better relationship with Archie and Lili and spend quality time with them," said the source.
"So it's possible that the Sussexes might go alone at the end of the summer just before the King returns to London, but it's highly unlikely given the current tensions.
"The most likely option is for the King to keep in contact with his grandchildren via Skype calls so that he doesn't lose touch with what they're getting up to."
