A Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Balmoral Stay This Summer Is Still ‘Possible,’ but Not the ‘Most Likely Option’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might visit Balmoral before the summer's over, but an insider says the 'most likely option' is something else entirely.

Don’t rule out a Sussex trip to Balmoral just yet. There’s still a chance—albeit a very slim one—that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could go to the royal family’s estate in Scotland before the summer’s over. An insider says the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children might make the trip to spend some quality time with King Charles III. However, the “most likely option” involves staying in “touch” without travel.

Harry and Meghan may visit King Charles at Balmoral when the rest of the family’s not there

A Sussex trip to Balmoral wouldn’t involve a big royal family reunion. Rather, if it does happen—and that’s a big if—a source told Express it’d probably be just the couple, their kids Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, and King Charles.

“Charles really does want to build a better relationship with Archie and Lili and spend quality time with them,” the source said. “So it’s possible that the Sussexes might go alone at the end of the summer just before the king returns to London.”

“But,” they added, “it’s highly unlikely given the current tensions.” The “tensions” have been going on for a number of years now. They started long before Harry and Meghan left royal life in 2020. They’re not on speaking terms with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Nor are they all that close with the king.

The Prince of Wales is reportedly responsible for blocking Harry—and, by extension, Meghan—from re-entering the royal fold in any way in his role as the family disciplinarian.

The ‘most likely option’ is Harry and Meghan will not go to Balmoral in favor of Skype calls

Getting together with King Charles at Balmoral is highly unlikely for Harry and Meghan. So, how will things probably unfold? The insider shared that the “most likely option” involves no travel, just video calls.

“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,” they said.

This scenario, should it play out, would likely be disappointing for the king—and for the Sussexes. According to previous reports, Harry, Meghan, and King Charles agreed that Archie and Lili should have a relationship with their paternal grandfather.

It’s been more than two years since the Sussex kids have seen King Charles in person. Archie and Lili last saw the monarch in June 2022. At the time, the family of four returned to the UK for Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Other royals will head to Balmoral in mid-August

Whether Harry and Meghan make their own trip to Balmoral, their royal counterparts are expected to be there in August, as in tradition. However, the source claimed the couple isn’t on the guest list. “Harry and Meghan will not be joining the rest of the royal family in August,” they said.

Per the outlet, the rest of the royal family arrival is scheduled—in pencil. For when exactly? “Some time in the middle of the month” as there’s a family shooting event planned for Aug. 12, 2024.

The gathering will be a mix of fun and the occasional conversation about the Firm. “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 insider said.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to be there, along with their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. However, their time at Balmoral, as royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET, will probably “be low-key and very much below the radar.”