Prince Harry’s meeting with his father King Charles could mark the first step towards a wider family reunion and a possible visit to the UK with his children next year, according to reports.
The Duke of Sussex spent 54 minutes with the King over tea at Clarence House on Wednesday evening, with insiders describing the summit as “an important first step towards rebuilding their father-and-son relationship.”
One royal source told the Daily Mail: “The King wants to be a grandfather to his grandchildren so that’s an important pull. He was so pleased when they came over for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and he was able to spend some time with them.
“It’s become clear that Harry now regrets some of his actions. He wants to reset his relationship with his family and with the people of the UK. It’s hard to see him ever coming back to live in Britain but this may be the start of something that at least allows them to be a functioning wider family again.”
Archie and Lilibet have not seen their grandfather for more than three years. Charles last saw them in June 2022, when Harry and Meghan visited for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The King has met Lilibet only once, and Archie just a handful of times.
Harry’s spokesman said the Duke has “loved being back in the UK,” and a source suggested he could return soon with his children. But whether Meghan Markle will join them remains unclear — the Duchess of Sussex has not been to the UK since the Queen’s death in September 2022.
Security is also an obstacle. Harry has been fighting a legal battle with the Home Office after his taxpayer-funded protection was removed when he and Meghan stepped down as working royals. The Sussexes would, however, be likely to receive armed bodyguards while visiting the King.
“There are all sorts of obstacles to that happening again because of Harry’s insistence that they have guaranteed armed police protection,” the insider said. “But maybe there is a way of getting them over to Balmoral or Sandringham next year or another royal residence where they are within the security perimeter.”
Harry reportedly promised his father that neither he nor his team would brief the media on what was said at the meeting. “He has told his father he won't be giving any interviews about it and his team have been instructed not to brief journalists about what was said,” the source added.
The summit was notably longer than the pair’s last meeting in February 2024, shortly after Charles’s cancer diagnosis, which lasted just over 15 minutes.
Prince William did not attend Wednesday’s meeting but was said to be aware it was happening. “William would have known that this was going to happen. It's not clear how happy he is about it but, you know, sooner or later most families reach some sort of accommodation after a family rift,” a royal source said.
After the meeting, Harry appeared relaxed as he attended an Invictus Games event, apologising for being late and joking that many of the guests “might be drunk.”
Asked about his father, Harry said: “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
