"I think the Sussexes are aiming high. There's no doubt about that," he told the broadcaster. "There's absolutely no doubt this has been obviously leaked...He's bringing, or wants to bring, depending on Ravec's (the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures) decision on his automatic security, which he insists on; we haven't heard about that yet, but he wants to bring Meghan, Archie and Lily to see the King, who would obviously like to see his grandchildren. Sandringham may well provide the ideal opportunity," he speculated.

"One of the problems, though, is, have you noticed it all is announced in the press beforehand? Wouldn't it be wise to arrange it with the King without telling us all?" He said.

Fitzwilliams was insistent the stories hadn't come from the palace, telling Neesom: "It's definitely coming from the Sussexes. It's part of a gigantic public relations campaign.

"...Remember there's a year to go before the Invictus Games in Birmingham - the one year to go is what they're ostensibly coming over for in the summer, in July. He's hoping the King will open it next year. And that is what is being planned," he said.

Broaching the subject of Harry's brother, he continued: "What Prince William thinks of this, that's quite another matter. So there are huge question marks.

"And also, don't forget, in the polls, the last one I saw, Harry was 26% and Meghan 19%, now that doesn't make them very popular.

"A lot of us have a fondness for the old Harry. I gather there's a WellChild event involved. We will, no doubt, see touches of that [the old Harry].

"But Meghan is not popular, no question about it. But with Archie and Lily Well, of course, that's the thing they'll bank on, I think, to some extent."

Prince Harry last saw his father on September 10 last year, when they met for just under an hour at Clarence House. However, when he was in London recently for his ongoing court case against Associated Newspapers, he did not see his family.