The Royal Family risk looking "churlish" as they could face a "difficult" decision in future, surrounding the estranged royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, an expert has claimed.
With Harry expected to make a rare trip back to the UK for a special Invictus Games 10th anniversary service at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8, thoughts are turning to what would transpire were the UK to win its bid to host the games in Birmingham in 2027.
As reported, Harry is looking likely to travel alone on May 8, with both he and his wife reportedly sharing fears over security and the safety of their children, Archie and Lilibet, in his homeland, unless the Duke can overturn a Home Office ruling stating he is not immediately entitled to police protection in the UK.
But as well as this, a royal expert reports that the "jury is out" on whether key members of the Royal Family would publicly support an Invictus Games on British soil at all.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle's fears for children's safety sees Duchess in 'dramatic U-turn' over Harry's UK visit
Writing in the Telegraph, royal editor Victoria Ward notes that the Royal Family is at present grappling with far more serious issues. With both King Charles and Princess Kate undergoing cancer treatments, their focus is firmly on health matters rather than public engagements.
Insiders at the Palace have always maintained that the Royals do not get Involved in each other's professional projects.
However, should the UK be chosen to host the week-long celebration of resilience, determination, and triumphing over all odds, Ward notes that "a lack of support for the competitors from senior royals would look churlish."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge played a pivotal role in the early triumphs of the Invictus Games, with their then joint Royal Foundation injecting substantial funds into the initiative.
A Royal source was once quoted: "Prince William and Catherine always supported Harry's efforts to establish Invictus. They are delighted that it has been a success."
With the current rift within the family, it seems improbable that either William or Kate would be seen cheering alongside Harry and Meghan in the Invictus Games stands in the coming years - even if it were held in the UK.
A potential compromise, the Telegraph reports, could involve athletic members of the Royal Family like the sporty Zara and Mike Tindall (the latter being a former England rugby star), who participated in the very first Invictus Games in London back in 2014, even joining Prince Harry for a wheelchair rugby match.
For the time being, Royals on both sides of the pond must patiently await the announcement of the winning bid later this year, with the UK facing tough competition from Washington DC. The Government has shown its support for the plan, promising a hefty £26 million in the recent Budget to kickstart the bid.
Meanwhile the Mirror reports Harry is only willing to bring Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to the UK if there's a major change and he can overturn the Home Office ruling. The Duke of Sussex could be back on British soil in just a few weeks for another visit.
The games, which began in London in 2014, are designed for sick and injured servicemen and women and were co-founded by Harry. His wife has been a staunch supporter of Invictus and recently joined her husband on a trip to Canada in February to promote the 2025 Games, set to take place in Vancouver and Whistler next year.
Harry has been embroiled in a legal battle over the decision made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) in February 2020, which informed him that he would no longer receive the "same degree" of public-funded security while in the UK.
Harry's legal team argued in court that he had been "singled out" and treated "less favourably" when his taxpayer-funded personal security was downgraded. They claimed that the lack of a risk assessment and consideration of the consequences of a "successful attack" on Harry rendered the decision "unlawful and unfair".
The court heard that Harry is concerned about the safety of his children, Archie and Lilibet, in the UK, stating they cannot "feel at home" if their safety isn't assured. In a written submission, Harry expressed his sorrow over stepping back from Royal duties and leaving the UK in 2020, saying: "It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020. The UK is my home."
He further stated: "The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."
The Government has defended its decision to dismiss Prince Harry's claim regarding his security arrangements, insisting that Ravec - which is under the control of the Home Office - is within its rights to take a "bespoke" and "case-by-case" approach. Lawyers from the Home Office contended that despite the Duke no longer being a part of the group whose "security position" is regularly reviewed by Ravec, he could be reintegrated in appropriate circumstances.
A ruling passed down in February saw retired High Court judge, Sir Peter Lane, debunking the Duke's stance that he was "singled out" and treated "less favourably" by the decision, concluding instead that Ravec's approach was neither irrational nor procedurally unfair. The Duke has revealed his intentions to appeal this verdict.
On his most recent visit to the UK in February, Prince Harry came alone to visit his ailing father, King Charles, in London, following his cancer diagnosis news. Upon hearing the troubling news, the Prince swiftly embarked on a journey from Los Angeles to London, spending roughly 30 minutes with his father before jetting back to the US the next day.
Days later, in a US television appearance, Harry detailed his recent visit home and hinted at more future trips across the pond to his native land on Good Morning America. He emphatically expressed: "Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that. I've got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I'll stop in and see my family as much as I can."