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OLIVE BRANCH

Queen invites Harry & Meghan to Balmoral for summer break but Sussexes would avoid other senior royals

THE Queen has held out an olive branch to Harry and Meghan by inviting them to Balmoral during her summer break.

Her offer could see the US-based Sussexes stay with her briefly when other senior royals are not about.

The Queen has held out an olive branch to Harry and Meghan by inviting them to Balmoral during her summer break
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The Queen has held out an olive branch to Harry and Meghan by inviting them to Balmoral during her summer breakCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
A Balmoral insider said: 'Staff have been told to expect the full list of royals including Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet'
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A Balmoral insider said: 'Staff have been told to expect the full list of royals including Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet'Credit: Reuters

Her Maj, 96, arrived in the Highlands on Thursday and is set to stay for ten weeks at seven-bed Craigowan Lodge.

A Balmoral insider said: “Staff have been told to expect the full list of royals including Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet.

"They are preparing for the Sussexes.”

Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, quit the UK in spring 2020 and have not been to the Highlands to see the Queen since 2018.

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They visited Britain for June’s Platinum Jubilee but did not stay long and were kept in the background for the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance.

Another insider said: “Balmoral is the perfect place for them to spend a little bit of quality time with the Queen.

"They barely had 15 minutes with her at the jubilee.”

But another source told The Sun on Sunday: “I would be stunned if they did turn up.”

Harry and Meghan, whose relations with senior royals, including Prince William are strained, secretly visited Prince Charles and the Queen when they stopped off on the way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games in April.

They showed Lilibet to the Queen during the Platinum Jubilee.

A ring of steel has been set up around Craigowan Lodge while a new £20,000 wheelchair-friendly lift will help the Queen with her mobility problems.

She likes to spend her Balmoral break surrounded by her family who take turns to visit.

Last year Kate and William came with their children George, Charlotte and Louis.

Edward and Sophie also visited with Lady Louise and Viscount James.

Prince Andrew hid on the 50,000-acre estate for many weeks while US lawyers attempted to serve his sex abuse writ.

The Queen and Prince Philip also used to host family barbecues there.

She named her lockdown corgi “Muick” after the beauty spot of the same name at Balmoral.

Read More on The Sun

Princess Eugenie has said: “It’s the most beautiful place on earth.

“I think Granny is the most happy there.”  

A quick getaway

THE Queen showed no sign of her recent mobility problems as she landed in Scotland for her summer break.

Read More on The US Sun

The 96-year-old walked unaided down the plane’s steps at Aberdeen Airport, before being driven to the Highlands.

The Queen showed no sign of her recent mobility problems as she walked unaided down the plane’s steps at Aberdeen Airport
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The Queen showed no sign of her recent mobility problems as she walked unaided down the plane’s steps at Aberdeen AirportCredit: Northpix
Her Majesty was driven to the Highlands after she landed in Scotland for her summer break
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Her Majesty was driven to the Highlands after she landed in Scotland for her summer breakCredit: Ross Johnston/Newsline media

An onlooker said: “She couldn’t wait to be down those stairs and begin her holiday.”

Another insider said: 'Balmoral is the perfect place for them to spend a little bit of quality time with the Queen'
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Another insider said: 'Balmoral is the perfect place for them to spend a little bit of quality time with the Queen'Credit: PA
Her Majesty likes to spend her Balmoral break surrounded by her family who take turns to visit
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Her Majesty likes to spend her Balmoral break surrounded by her family who take turns to visitCredit: Getty - Contributor
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