Prince Harry and Meghan will be at the “heart of the King’s funeral plans,” according to reports, amid growing speculation over a possible royal reconciliation.
Royal commentators say King Charles is “very much hopeful” that he and Harry will be able to reconnect, years after the fallout from Megxit and revelations in Harry’s memoir, Spare.
There are signs a reunion may be on the horizon, with Prince Harry said to have invited his family to the next Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027, as well as to King Charles’s 80th birthday celebrations the following year, The Telegraph reports.
The newspaper’s deputy royal editor, Victoria Ward, writes that the King has included not just Harry and Meghan, but also their children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three, “into the heart of his funeral plans.”
Ward writes that there is “no suggestion” the King’s reign will not continue for many years, but the monarch is “adamant” that Harry will take “his rightful place at the centre of the family” when the time comes.
She reports that the Sussexes are “enveloped in the King’s funeral plans at the highest level,” with arrangements for Harry to walk alongside his brother William, by then King, in the funeral procession. Harry and Meghan are also set to be invited to participate in the King’s lying in state at Westminster Hall, holding vigil with other senior royals.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will also be invited to the funeral service at Westminster Abbey and the committal at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, if they wish.
Funeral arrangements for monarchs are often drawn up decades in advance under the codename Operation London Bridge, with input from senior members of the Royal Household, police, military and the Church of England.
It is believed the King has closely modelled his own memorial service on that of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, but with elements reflecting his personal beliefs.
Sustainability will reportedly feature in the plans to reflect the King’s long-standing environmental campaigning, while the Royal mourning period is expected to be reduced by a week to just 10 or 11 days, aligning with the period of national mourning.
Detailed plans are also in place covering every potential location of the King’s death, including arrangements to transport the coffin to Buckingham Palace.
The royal train appeared in plans following Queen Elizabeth’s death in Balmoral but was ultimately not used over concerns about public safety and disruption. It has reportedly now been removed as a transport option for future royal funeral plans.
Buckingham Palace said the King’s funeral plans have not been finalised and cautioned against speculation.