Prince Harry and Meghan Markle not expected to see the Queen during UK visit

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a major decision to make ahead of their visit to the UK amid reports it’s already been made.

Prince Harry will return to the UK next month with wife Meghan Markle but are not expected to meet with the Queen, according to reports.

Instead the Sussexes trip will focus on supporting charities “close to their hearts” as tension continues to build in the royal family ahead of the publication of Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir.

The hectic schedule also raises questions about where the Sussexes stand with other members of the royal family, and how they plan to resolve their security protection row with the Met Police ahead of the visit.

A source told Page Six that the Queen has spoken to the couple who said they found the Platinum Jubilee “difficult”.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will return to England during their British and European visit for charity causes. Picture: AFP

The Duke and Duchess were in the UK for just a few days and left before the celebrations ended after a frosty reception in June.

However, the pair are set for a potentially dramatic reunion with Prince William and Kate who will be moving to their new permanent home of Adelaide Cottage — less than 2km from where the Sussexes are staying, Frogmore Cottage.

Speaking of the prospect, a senior palace source told The Sun: “There are obviously a lot of moving parts with everyone’s schedules but nothing is being ruled out.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during the Invictus Games at The Hague 2020. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Prince Harry and Meghan will first travel to Manchester for the One Young World Summit featuring young leaders from more than 190 countries on September 5.

The Duchess of Sussex is a counsellor for the organisation, alongside Justin Trudeau, Sir Richard Branson, and Jamie Oliver, and others.

They will then head to Germany for the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 One Year to Go event, before returning to the UK for the WellChild Awards on September 8.

It isn’t known if their children Archie, 3, and daughter Lilibet, 1, will join them for the trip.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie and Lilibet. It is not known whether the children will accompany their parents on the trip. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The visit comes as speculation ramps up about the bombshells Prince Harry has planned for his memoir, that is due out before Christmas, possibly as soon as Thanksgiving in the US.

It emerged this week researchers working with Prince Harry have been seeking information about his mother Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in Paris, in August 1997.

“There have been approaches which suggest Prince Harry is intensely focused on getting more information about his mother’s death,” one source said.

Prince Harry reportedly sought information about his mother Princess Diana’s death for his memoir. Picture: AFP

Prince Harry, 37, blamed her death for his own mental health problems that he tried to resolve with drink and drugs, and he told Oprah Winfrey last year he was haunted by her final moments when she was being chased by paparazzi in Paris.

The couple’s visit to Europe also comes amid an ongoing row over the use of Met Police protection officers.

Prince Harry claims his family are “unsafe” in the UK without self-funded Met Police armed bodyguards.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has not yet resolved his issues with security ahead of his visit to the UK and Europe. Picture: AFP

But the Home Office have refused the Duke’s request, saying London’s police force cannot be privately hired.

Prince Harry has filed a second lawsuit against the Home Office and Met Police.

The Judicial Office said: “It is at an early stage, no hearings have been listed yet and no decisions have been made.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex has filed a second lawsuit against the Home Office and the Met Police, England. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Their visit to the UK will be the first time they have been back in the country since the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in early June.

During their Jubilee visit, Prince Harry and Meghan saw the Queen for just 15 minutes in a “formal” visit, the Sun reported. The Queen was able to meet her namesake Lilibet at the “quick in and out” meeting.

Last month, the Queen reportedly held out an olive branch to the Sussexes and invited them to Balmoral during her summer break.

But the couple denied ever being invited and said they won’t join Prince Harry’s grandmother during her annual getaway.

Prince Harry (C), Duke of Sussex at the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's reign at Saint Paul's Cathedral in London, June 2022. Picture: AFP

It is not known if Prince Harry will spend any time with his father Prince Charles, or his brother Prince William, or celebrate his birthday, which falls on September 15, in the UK with any of the royal family.

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle not expected to see the Queen during UK visit