Royal expert Richard Fitz Williams expressed his views on the situation, noting that King Charles' speech was a momentous occasion, marking the first time the king had opened parliament since 1950. He found it particularly inappropriate that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were back in the news on the same day as the speech. While a spokesperson for the couple denied allegations in the Sunday Times that Harry had declined an invitation to the king's birthday party, a friend of the couple suggested that the story might have been strategically leaked to divert attention from King Charles and Queen Camilla's recent trip to Kenya.
Former Royal correspondent Phil Dampier also weighed in, emphasizing King Charles' continued readiness for reconciliation and the importance of his approach. He refuted allegations that the story of the birthday invitation had been leaked as a distraction, emphasizing that recent royal events were not a source of concern.
The ongoing rift within the royal family remains a significant concern, with questions about the possibility of further memoirs or revelations from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Their relationship with the royal family has remained tense since their decision to step down as senior royals and move to California. Their comments and actions have added another layer to the ongoing royal saga.
