Prince Harry appears ready to meet his father, King Charles, for the first time in 20 months when he returns to Britain – although his brother, Prince William, has rejected any possibility of meeting with his brother.
While relations between Prince Harry and the British royal family remain strained following his decision to live in America with his wife Meghan Markle, it appears small steps toward reconciliation are being taken, at least with King Charles.
The restoration of relations between the Duke of Sussex and the monarch comes after an informal “peace summit” with Buckingham Palace officials. Harry is expected to return to London on September 8 – the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death – to attend the WellChild Awards, a charity event he has supported for years.
The King is in the country and has no scheduled foreign travel until later in September, thus opening the door for father and son to meet for the first time since February 2024.
The two have not met since last year, during the period when King Charles was undergoing cancer treatment.
Prince Harry: There is determination from both sides for reconciliation
An American source told the Mirror: “It’s clear that there is now determination from both sides for reconciliation. No one claims that the broader family issues have been resolved, but this could be a beginning for Charles and Harry.
“For the first time in a while, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is achievable. Harry’s team and the Palace have opened a line of communication and there’s every hope that father and son will meet when the Duke returns to London in September,” the Mirror report continues.
They added: “After 20 months since they last saw each other and with the King continuing his treatment, the feeling is that the right time has come to take this step. This isn’t about grand gestures or staged meetings but about a simple face-to-face conversation between father and son. The priority is privacy and dignity, while ensuring the door remains open for further dialogue. As for Harry and William, however, any possibility of reconciliation has been categorically rejected.”
Despite the potential meeting, it’s considered certain that Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, will maintain her self-imposed “exile” from Britain, choosing to remain in California with the couple’s two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Charles has not seen his grandchildren since June 2022, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
