Prince Harry met his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months on Wednesday (September 10) at Clarence House in London. The private meeting lasted around 50 minutes and has fueled speculation about possible reconciliation within the British royal family.
According to CNN, Harry was seen arriving at Clarence House at around 5:20 pm BST (9:50 pm IST) in a black Range Rover. He left within an hour. When asked about his father after the meeting, Harry said, “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
King Charles had been at Balmoral in Scotland for the summer and traveled to London earlier in the day for official duties. These included meeting Peter Malinauskas, the Premier of South Australia.
Reason for Harry’s UK Visit
Prince Harry is currently on a four-day trip to the UK for charity events. Before meeting his father, he visited Imperial College London’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies.
Fans gathered outside to greet him as he left the venue. Harry shook hands, posed for selfies, and told them, “I have to go, I’m so late… I’ve got to go, I’ve got to go. Nice to meet you guys,” reported Daily Mail.
This reunion comes after their brief meeting in February 2024, when Harry flew to Britain to see his father following King Charles’s cancer diagnosis. That meeting lasted only 30 minutes.
Rift Between Harry and the Royal Family
Tensions between Harry and the royal family have been high since 2020, when Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior working royals. The couple then moved to California, focusing on media projects and charity work.
Following their departure, Harry’s security in the UK was downgraded. It is now provided on a case-by-case basis. Earlier this year, Harry lost a legal appeal to have full-time protection reinstated.
In 2021, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan alleged that a member of the royal family expressed concerns about their son Archie’s skin color before his birth.
Harry also made shocking claims in his memoir, Spare, including that his brother, Prince William, physically attacked him during an argument about Meghan. He further claimed William and his wife, Kate Middleton, encouraged him to wear a Nazi costume to a 2005 party and “howled” with laughter when they saw it.
In May, Harry revealed to the BBC that his father had not been speaking to him because of his legal battle with the UK Home Office. Sources close to Harry also told PEOPLE that King Charles had been avoiding his calls and messages.
Hopes of Reconciliation
In May, Harry publicly said he wanted to repair his relationship with his family.
He admitted, “Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book… they will never forgive me for lots of things.”
However, he added, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.”
This marked a softer tone compared to his past criticisms.
In July, aides of King Charles and Harry were seen meeting in London. Insiders told PEOPLE that it was a positive development. “It was a good first step. It is always better to be talking,” one source said.
The latest meeting is viewed as an important step toward rebuilding trust. Analysts believe if Harry had returned to the US without seeing his father, it would have caused further damage to their relationship.
Challenges Remain in Family Relations
Despite the progress, Harry did not meet his brother, Prince William, during this trip. This suggests that a full reconciliation may still be far away.
On Monday, Harry visited his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s grave on the third anniversary of her death. At the same time, William and Kate were less than 10 miles away attending a Women’s Institute event honoring the late Queen.
Robert Lacey, author of Battle of Brothers, told PEOPLE, “The rift is very profound and very long-lasting. It will not be changed, in my opinion, until Harry makes a move and apologises.”
The Road Ahead
This brief meeting between King Charles and Harry is seen as a positive sign. While it does not resolve years of tension, it could open doors for future dialogue.
The focus now will be on whether Harry takes further steps to mend ties especially with his brother William and whether the royal family is willing to accept him back into the fold.