The Queen has invited Prince Harry to lunch, ahead of his summer trip to the UK

In true grandmotherly fashion, the Queen is attempting to placate tensions within her family. Ahead of Prince Harry's July visit to the UK, her Majesty has asked her grandson to meet for lunch. This is allegedly their first private get-together since the Duke of Sussex stepped back from his royal duties.  

• Prince Harry will be venturing across the pond this summer to attend the unveiling of Princess Diana's statue at Kensington Palace.  
• The Queen has extended an invite to the Duke of Sussex for a private lunch at Windsor Castle, where they will "talk things through," according to sources.
• In other royal news, the cutest royal family nicknames have been revealed. 

It seems the Queen is attempting to move forward. Her Majesty felt "hurt" by Prince Harry's accusations from his groundbreaking tell-all with Oprah and their mental health documentary, The Me You Can't See. Despite his claims about the harshness of royal life, there may yet be a way forward — and the arrival of Lilibet 'Lili' Diana means there's an extra reason to repair what was once a close bond. The proposed lunch between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry could be considered the first step, but royal expert Phil Dampier told The Sun that it would take a lot more work than one sit-down to rectify tension.

Sources revealed to Vanity Fair that the duo always shared a fun, humorous relationship. Harry himself noted in his sit-down with Oprah that he has a great deal of respect for his grandmother. The Duke of Sussex was close with both of his grandparents, and the recent death of Prince Phillip may also have prompted moves toward a reconciliation. However, when Harry returned to the UK for his grandfather's funeral in April, royal sources allege he didn't have an opportunity to speak to his grandmother privately.

Meghan Markle is not expected to attend the meeting, taking place in a few weeks time, as she'll be home caring for newborn Lili and two-year-old son, Archie. However, the Queen apparently had this meeting in mind long before her grandson became a father for the second time.

In addition, on July 1, a Princess Diana statue in Kensington Gardens, which was commissioned by both Prince Harry and Prince William in 2017, will be unveiled in time for what would have been Diana's 60th birthday.  

“Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy,” a press release stated.