June 24, 2026

July 10: The Day Harry and Meghan's Return Could Dominate the Royal Headlines

July 10: The Day Harry and Meghan's Return  Could Dominate the Royal Headlines

Prince Harry’s expected return to Britain is drawing closer, and all eyes are on July 10. With Harry expected in Birmingham for an Invictus Games event and Prince William hosting his annual charity polo match, the royal calendar may be setting up another chapter in the ongoing story of two brothers living very different lives. Reports suggest tensions remain high behind palace walls, with claims that Queen Camilla remains deeply skeptical of any reconciliation efforts. We hear from royal commentators, insiders, and Deep Crown, who asks the question everyone seems to be avoiding: what role will Meghan Markle play if this trip actually happens?

Plus, Prince William surprises Londoners by arriving at an Earthshot event aboard a double-decker bus with Robert Irwin, and Princess Eugenie finds herself at the center of an unexpected social media debate after a Father’s Day post sparked comparisons to Harry and Meghan’s approach to family privacy.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:10.960
Ah Calaroga Shark Media that lower welcome through Palace intrigue,

2
00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:14.640
I'm your host, Mark Francis. Prince Harry's expected return to

3
00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:17.960
Britain next month could create one of the more intriguing

4
00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:21.120
dates on this year's Royal calendar, with both the Duke

5
00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:23.320
of Sussex and the Prince of Wales said to have

6
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:27.559
major engagements on the same day. The possibility was highlighted

7
00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:30.640
by a royal photographer who goes by Rookie, who noted

8
00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:34.039
that July tenth could see Prince William and Prince Harry

9
00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.880
carrying out separate high profile events. Writing on social media,

10
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:40.719
he said it's looking like July tenth could be an

11
00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:43.600
interesting date in this year's Royal calendar, with the Prince

12
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:47.359
of Wales's annual charity polo match taking place, and the

13
00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:49.679
Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the We Are in

14
00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:54.119
Victus One Year to Go event possibly taking place in Birmingham.

15
00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:58.000
As Harry's expected return to Britain draws close up, fresh

16
00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.600
reports are suggesting that it may be differ tfering views

17
00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:05.159
within royal circles over how any future reconciliation should be handled.

18
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:09.040
Closer quotes an unnamed sources saying most of the time

19
00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:11.480
Camilla bites her tongue and let's wollim lead the anti

20
00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.959
Sussex lobbying, But there are certainly instances where she does

21
00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:17.280
not speak up, and this summer trip is one of them.

22
00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:20.239
She's letting everyone know that she feels any sort of

23
00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:25.000
leniency towards the Sussex's is a grave mistake. As far

24
00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.400
as she's concerned, Charles needs to stop being naive and

25
00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.439
see them for the threat that they are. She can't

26
00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:34.560
even fathom that he could possibly forgive Harry for what

27
00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:37.000
he and Megan said about them in their Oprah interview,

28
00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:40.680
let alone what he wrote about them in Spare. The

29
00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:44.480
report claims concerns increased after remarks attributed to a source

30
00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.079
close to the King suggested Charles continues to support the

31
00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:52.319
Invictus Games, the international sporting competition founded by Prince Harry.

32
00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:56.159
That source reportedly said, like the rest of the royal family,

33
00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:59.920
his Majesty believes that Invictus is a very worthy cause.

34
00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.560
He hopes that the Games will be a big success

35
00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:05.079
for Birmingham next year, and is aware that a lot

36
00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:08.199
of taxpayer's money has been spent on it. According to

37
00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.879
the magazine's account, that expression of support prompted renewed concern

38
00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.520
among those who fear any public warmth toward Harry could

39
00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:20.879
be interpreted as a step toward reconciliation. An unnamed insider

40
00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.120
told the publication she thought it was settled after America,

41
00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.879
that Charles was letting this ridiculous need to reconcile with

42
00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:30.280
Harry go. But then he started saying that he wants

43
00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.960
to lend his support to Invictus, that it's a worthwhile

44
00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:36.439
cause and he should be making an effort. Not surprisingly,

45
00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.159
that has set Camilla's alarm bells ringing, and she's warning

46
00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:42.039
Charles that whenever Harry and Meghan are given an inch,

47
00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.879
they inevitably take a mile. They have this very aggressive

48
00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.120
and righteous side to their personalities where they just want

49
00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.680
to get front and center of everything, and Camilla can't

50
00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:55.159
fathom having to smile and deal with that. As one

51
00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.280
source put it, he's not a man who takes advice easily,

52
00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.759
but if there's one person he does less to, it's Camilla. Clearly,

53
00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.719
she's had a lot of influence so far. She stopped

54
00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:07.400
the meeting in America, and she's torpedoed the cozy summer

55
00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.919
reunion plans Harry was pushing for. But that doesn't mean

56
00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:13.039
this battle is over. No one is waving the white

57
00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:15.120
flag just yet, and Harry is clearly going to keep

58
00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:20.039
on pulling at his father's heartstrings no matter what. Beyond Charles,

59
00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:22.719
there is an issue of William. Royal commentator Amanda matt

60
00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.319
at Toll page six. I think it's almost impossible to

61
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:28.800
draw any conclusions about a reconciliation between Harry and William

62
00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:32.680
at this stage. William is also seeking to project strength

63
00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.159
and leadership these days, which often results in press briefings

64
00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:38.639
that he has opposed the King's handling of emotionally charged

65
00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:42.960
issues like Andrew mount Batten Windsor and now Harry's potential return.

66
00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:47.240
Royal journalist Emily Nash also expressed doubts that the brothers

67
00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.479
will spend time together during Harry's visit. I certainly wouldn't

68
00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.680
expect anything to happen on this visit, Nash said, before adding,

69
00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:56.520
I mean, you never know. If it was part of

70
00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:58.800
a wider family gathering, it's possible they could be at

71
00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.919
the same place at the same time, but you know,

72
00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:04.039
given the very fractious nature of the relationship between William

73
00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:06.280
and Harry. I don't see them rushing to spend time

74
00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:10.120
together just because Harry's back in the UK. I think

75
00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:12.960
he probably is just focused on his own moment of

76
00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.120
spending time with the son he's not seen for a

77
00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:19.199
long time, especially potentially meeting his grandchildren. I'm sure that's

78
00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.319
probably his primary focus right now. Matter believes that any

79
00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:27.199
future reconciliation would require Prince William to approach the situation differently,

80
00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.079
sort of the opposite of King Charles approach. She said.

81
00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.160
William has been the holdout for years, viewing Harry's betrayal

82
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.639
as unforgivable. If there were to be a private meeting

83
00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.079
between William and Harry, this would be a clear signal

84
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:43.120
that lines of communication are being reopened. Nash, however, cautioned

85
00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:47.839
against expecting rapid progress. These things have to happen step

86
00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.199
by step, she said. When things have been as difficult

87
00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:52.480
and estranged as they have been in that family, I

88
00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:56.439
wouldn't expect things to change overnight. In his substack, Royal

89
00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:59.279
inside a deep grown observes the Prince of Wales does

90
00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:01.360
not wake in the more and hope that something important

91
00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.879
lands on his calendar. Functions are planned, sometimes months in advance.

92
00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.519
A charity gala scheduled for the evening Harry is known

93
00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:10.040
to be in London was scheduled because it could be

94
00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.360
scheduled for that evening. The Prince did not stumble into conflict.

95
00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.959
The conflict was engineered to appear as though it were inevitable.

96
00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.439
Deck Crewn also brought up another part of the story,

97
00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:23.079
the question that matters, the one that the schedules and

98
00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.920
the absences are designed to answer without anyone quite saying so,

99
00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:30.079
is this what will Megan do? Will she have photographs taken,

100
00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:33.360
Will she appear at functions, make remarks, establish a public presence.

101
00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:36.600
Will she position herself as part of Harry's journey, intending

102
00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.279
events alongside him, visible and engaged, or will she remain

103
00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:43.279
deliberately outside the frame, as though testing whether the visit

104
00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:47.160
can proceed without her being the central variable. The first

105
00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.319
option means that Meghan becomes the story. Every appearance is scrutinized,

106
00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.959
every remark has passed. The visit transforms into a referendum

107
00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.519
on the Duchess's standing, her reception at place in the

108
00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:59.720
institutional order. This option was a means that the institution

109
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.160
must manage her visibility, which is its own form of constraint.

110
00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:08.800
The second option, the deliberate absence, suggests something different. It

111
00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:12.040
suggests a judgment that Megan's absence is more strategically useful

112
00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.560
than her presence. It suggests that allowing Harry to be

113
00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.040
the sole focus to drive the narrative around his own

114
00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.160
relationship with his family is preferable to having her be

115
00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:24.839
the centralizing force. Paradoxically, stepping back might be the more

116
00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:28.600
powerful move. And don't forget. You can subscribe to Deep

117
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:32.240
Crown's newsletter for free on substack. Just search for Deep

118
00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:35.439
Crown or just google deep Crown. You'll find it there.

119
00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:43.040
More palace in just a moment. Prince William surprised Londoners

120
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.720
on Tuesday morning after arriving at a major Earthshot Prize

121
00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:48.720
event aboard one of the capital's double deck and buses.

122
00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:51.480
The Prince of Wales traveled to the London Guild Hall

123
00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:55.639
with television presenter Robert Irwin, who serves as an ambassador

124
00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:58.000
for the Earthshot Prize. The pair, when joined by young

125
00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:01.839
environmental campaigners on especially brand electric bus, marking the three

126
00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:06.879
thousandth zero emission vehicle to enter the transport for London Fleet.

127
00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:09.560
The journey lasted around twenty minutes and ended at the

128
00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:14.360
Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly, an event bringing together finalists, winners, businesses,

129
00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:18.120
leaders and philanthropists to celebrate the progress made by William's

130
00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.399
environmental initiative. Reaction online was enthusiastic, with one person writing

131
00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.560
how does Prince William and Robert Erwin get to the

132
00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:27.800
earth Shot Assembly on a double decker bus? Of course,

133
00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.839
Father's Day continues to be controversial in royal circles. Now

134
00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:33.959
it is Princess Eugenie who's found itself at the center

135
00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.439
of an online debate after sharing a Father's Day tribute

136
00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.920
to her husband, Jack brooks Bank. The princess posted two

137
00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:42.839
photographs on Instagram on Sunday, including a picture of Jack

138
00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:46.800
walking with the couple's two sons, August and Ernest. However,

139
00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:49.399
the image was taken from behind, meaning either Jack's face

140
00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.040
nor the faces of the children were visible. The decision

141
00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:54.720
prompted a wave of comments from social media users, with

142
00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:57.040
some questioning why Eugenie has chosen not to show her

143
00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:02.680
children's faces online drew comparisons with Harry and Meghan, who

144
00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:04.920
have also largely kept Prince Archie and Princess a little

145
00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:08.319
bit out of the public eye. One person commented, not

146
00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:10.720
her taking a page out of Meghan's book and hiding

147
00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.439
the faces laughing emojis. Another asked, why would you post

148
00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:18.279
backs of your family? Princess Eugenie did not respond publicly

149
00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:22.000
to any of the criticism, and there you have it, hey, all.

150
00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.279
This month, we're encouraging listeners of Palace Intrigue to help

151
00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:27.399
spread the word. If you enjoy this show, know you do,

152
00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:29.600
tell a friend about us. Better, yet, share an episode

153
00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.759
with someone who loves following the royal family. You know

154
00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.559
who they are. Be sure to follow Palace Intrigue on

155
00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.799
Spotify or Apple and turn on notifications so you never

156
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.840
miss an episode. And we'd love to hear your thoughts

157
00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.840
on today's stories. You can always leave a comment on Spotify,

158
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:46.559
my Francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace

159
00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.200
Intrigue and good terms.