Prince Harry and his estranged father had their first face-to-face meeting in 19 months the last time Harry was in the UK – but it may not have put them on the road to full reconciliation
Prince Harry and his estranged father King Charles (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The King felt “slightly railroaded” into his reunion with Prince Harry and still remains wary of him, according to an expert.
Back in September, estranged father and son had their first face to face meeting in 19 months when they had tea together for 55 minutes at Clarence House during Harry’s trip to the UK. The reunion led to hopes it could pave the way for a full reconciliation, with more meetings in the future, especially this year, with Harry due to travel to the UK this month.
But after their meeting, it was later reported that the meeting had been “distinctly formal” – although Harry hit back, saying there were sources “intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son”. It was later reported that the King had been left saddened and perplexed by Harry’s statement.
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Prince Harry arrives at Clarence House ahead of a meeting with King Charles last September(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
And now, the Daily Mail’s royal editor, Rebecca English says this has all made the King ‘wary’ of welcoming his son fully back into the fold. She wrote: “Much has been made of their meeting at Clarence House in September, the first between them for 19 months. And while people are reluctant to comment on the circumstances – knowing how hysterical the Sussexes can be about (wrongly) perceived palace briefings and leaks – the impression I get is that the King felt slightly railroaded into it.
“In truth, he knew that if he refused to meet Harry, then this would inevitably have been ‘weaponised’ against him at some point in the future. Better to meet and then retreat instead.” It comes as friends of Harry claim he desperately wants the King to visit America this year to see his grandchildren.
Charles last saw Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in 2022 when they visited the UK as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It means he has only seen six-year-old Archie a handful of times and four-year-old Lilibet only once. Since then, Harry has been battling with the Home Office to reinstate automatic armed police protection for when he and his family visit the UK.
Harry and wife Meghan with their children Archie and Lilibet (Image: INSTAGRAM/@MEGHAN)
He has not brought his children to the UK since, with Charles also not travelling to the US. But with the news before Christmas that the King’s cancer treatment is to be scaled back in the New Year, Harry has reportedly expressed a desire for his father to come to California to visit.
A source told The Sun: “Harry has made it clear that he would love his dad to come and visit him and the family. He knows that they are strained, but he has mentioned several times a hope that his father can have a relationship with his grandchildren.” The Mirror has contacted Harry’s office for comment.
It comes amid reports that Harry is also ‘confident’ that his taxpayer-funded police protection when he visits the UK could be restored. The Duke of Sussex lost an appeal in May challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.
The legal challenge came after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex left the UK and first moved to Canada, and then California, after announcing they wanted to step back as senior royals. According to The Telegraph, sources say the feeling is ‘positive’ and that the Sussex camp is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that his automatic security would be reinstated.
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