Prince Harry is back in the United Kingdom this week, travelling alone to attend engagements with charities he continues to support. Chief among them is the WellChild Awards, a cause close to his heart for nearly two decades. The visit coincides with the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, sparking renewed speculation over whether Harry might finally meet his father, King Charles III, after 19 months of estrangement.
Strained family relationship
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have lived in California, their relationship with the royal family steadily deteriorating. Tensions deepened after their candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix documentary series and Harry’s memoir Spare, which laid bare private conversations and accused the Palace of indifference and racism.
The last meeting between Harry and Charles took place in February 2024, when Harry visited following his father’s cancer diagnosis. The brief encounter lasted less than an hour, underscoring the fragile state of relations. Legal battles over Harry’s police protection further strained ties, with the prince accusing the royal household of knowingly jeopardising his family’s safety.
Despite his grievances, Harry has at times extended an olive branch. Speaking after his court case ended earlier this year, he told the BBC, “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
He has also made clear that reconciliation depends on openness and “truth.” Yet bitterness lingers. In Spare, Harry recalled his father pleading with his sons: “Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery.”
Shifting tone at the palace
There are, however, subtle signs of movement. Over the summer, reports surfaced of King Charles’s communications team holding quiet talks with representatives of Harry and Meghan in London dubbed a “peace summit.” While the Palace has not confirmed such discussions, their very occurrence suggested a willingness to explore common ground. With Charles approaching his 77th birthday and continuing cancer treatment, some observers believe the monarch may wish to spend more time with his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, who are growing up in California.
Harry’s visit centres on the WellChild Awards, celebrating the courage of children with serious health needs and those who care for them. The duke, who has been patron since 2007, paid tribute to their resilience: “Their stories remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.” For many, it is a reminder of Harry’s former standing as a key figure in the monarchy’s outreach to younger and more diverse audiences.
Could there be a return?
Some British media have speculated that Harry and Meghan could resume part-time royal duties. Before their exit in 2020, the couple had reportedly sought a “half in, half out” arrangement similar to that enjoyed by Edward and Sophie in their early years of marriage. Queen Elizabeth II firmly rejected this model, leading to their full departure. Whether Charles would reconsider such a compromise remains uncertain.