“You would think that this would be the perfect opportunity for the whole family to forgive, if not forget, the rift and hurt of recent years. But there have been so many perfect opportunities for that to happen: the death of Prince Philip and then the Queen, followed by the Coronation were all chances when many people imagined the ill feeling of the past could be put to bed.

“But it hasn’t happened, and Meghan has made it very obvious that she absolutely does not want to set foot in the UK: when she passed through Heathrow on the way to Nigeria earlier this year, she decided that the VIP area at the airport was as far as she wanted to venture.”

News of the Games’ return to the UK also comes as Harry lost a High Court battle over the loss of his UK police protection when he is in the country after quitting Britain for the United States.

During the legal hearing, Harry said in a statement he believes his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet cannot “feel at home” in the UK if it is “not possible to keep them safe” there. He also added: “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States.

“That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.” Harry has been allowed to appeal against the decision, but if it does not go in his favour before the Games in 2027, both he and Meghan may have to make a big decision on whether she should attend.

In addition, a home turf competition also has fans wondering whether Harry’s father the King, brother the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family will attend to support the event. Charles and William backed Harry when he launched the major venture 10 years ago, joining him at the opening ceremony and later flanking him as they watched the athletics together in high spirits. But much has changed in the years that followed.