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STRAINED RELATIONSHIP
Harry & Charles MUST see each other if Meghan doesn’t come to UK – it would give King a huge boost, reveals royal expert
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PRINCE Harry and King Charles must see each other if Meghan Markle does not come to the UK, a royal expert has said.
Harry, 39, is heading to Britain next week in what is expected to be a solo trip, as his wife opts to stay in California.
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In events that clash with dad Charles, Harry will attend a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral as part of the Invictus Games tour, on May 8.
And ITV News' royal correspondent Chris Ship has told The Sun's Royal Exclusive show that the father and son would put schedules aside to meet, as long as Meghan isn't it tow.
Chris Ship told "The relationships are very difficult within that family and I think, yes, it would be a lot easier if Meghan weren't there.
"But you know it is still the King's daughter-in-law and they still have two children who are the King's grandchildren.
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"You would kind of hope that they would all see each other."
An insider said Meghan had “shown no interest” in coming back to the UK.
The former actress is yet to introduce youngest Lilibet, two, to the Royal Family - which Chris said could give the King a "boost" during his cancer battle.
He added: "Wouldn't it be nice if they did bring the kids and they all went to see granddad, because that would really give him a boost.
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"Just imagine if Harry and Meghan came over with the grandchildren, if he got to see them, or one of them for the very first time.
"That would be quite something."
'Marmite' Meghan is avoiding UK so she's not BOOED again - going to Nigeria shows what she thinks of us, says expert
It comes after claims Meghan would not make the transatlantic trip with Harry over fears she would be greeted with a "hostile reception".
Richard Fitzwilliams previously told The Sun that "the Sussexes aren't trusted by the Royal Family" and he isn't surprised Meghan won't arrive in London with Harry.
He said: "I never thought that Meghan would come over because of the hostility towards her, but I mean no one has to emphasise that it's hostile.
"And anyway, her attendance at the reception would overshadow the message of the service, and you wouldn't want that, as far as Harry is concerned.
"One must hope everyone's interested in the rift being resolved so hopefully this might happen.
"But it will happen because of private contact, contact that we wouldn't know existed.
"I mean, that has a far, far better chance, anyway. But the problem essentially, is one of trust.
Prince Harry's last visit to the UK
PRINCE Harry last stepped foot off a plane into Britain on February when King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis.
The royal however, was only with his dad for 30 minutes after flying 5,000 miles.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, landed at Heathrow following a ten-and-a-half hour overnight flight.
He was whisked to London while Charles, 75, delayed a helicopter flight to Sandringham so they could hold their first meeting in 16 months.
In an unusual move, Charles kept his helicopter waiting so he could personally welcome Harry at his London home Clarence House.
Sources said the King made a “significant” decision to delay his travel plans after his son’s gesture to fly across the Atlantic at short notice.
Their meeting was thought to have lasted little more than half an hour, with Harry and his entourage leaving Clarence House around 45 minutes after arriving.
It was the first time he and Charles had met in private since Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, though they have been in telephone contact.
"The Sussexes aren't trusted by the royal family. That Oprah interview, which did so much harm went, actually went out at the time when the Duke of Edinburgh was ill in hospital.
"This is something the royal family wouldn't have forgotten either.
"But looking to the future, of course I must hope that the royal rift is solved in some way.
"The King has always kept the door open to Harry, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he would invariably get a warm reception."
It comes despite Meghan previously attending Invictus Games with Harry in Toronto, Sydney, The Hague and Dusseldorf.
She has not set foot in the UK since attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.
Chris Ship added that Meg was avoiding the UK because she didn't want to get booed by Brits again.
Last time Harry and Meghan were at St Paul's was for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee where they exited the car to an overwhelming sound of booing.
He continued: "The difficulty is you remember last time they went to St Paul's Cathedral, which was for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, they got booed.
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"We heard the boos for them. We should be clear there was also people cheering for them, but there were definitely boos at St Paul's Cathedral.
"So going back there I can see why Meghan may not wish to accompany Harry there."
Timeline of Charles' health battles & recovery
JAN 17: Buckingham Palace announces the King has been diagnosed with enlarged prostate
JAN 26: The Sun exclusively photograph the King arriving at The London Clinic for his 'corrective procedure'
JAN 29: The King seen waving and smiling as he left hospital after an extra night
FEB 5: Palace reveal while in hospital for his prostate operation doctors discovered the the King has a form of cancer
FEB 10: King issues 'heartfelt thanks' in a written statement
MAR 31: King attends Easter Sunday service and tales part in 'walkabout' with members of the public and aides say 'it was a significant step' as KIng had 'responded to treatment very encouragingly'
APR 4: The Sun exclusively reveals King has ordered aides to 'supercharge' his diary for the summer and is 'raring to go'
APR 26: Buckingham Palace announce King will return to public-facing front-line duties
APR 30: King Charles set to visit a cancer treatment centre with Queen Camila to meet patients and medical specialists in order to raise awareness of early diagnosis and the work of Cancer Research UK
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