It has been nearly two years since Prince Harry last met his father, King Charles. Now, in a surprising twist, the Duke of Sussex is preparing to return to the UK in September and insiders say this trip could mark the beginning of a long-awaited reconciliation.
Harry is scheduled to attend the annual WellChild Awards in London and, according to The Mirror, will also carve out time for a private meeting with the monarch. The rendezvous will be their first in-person encounter in 20 months after a long gap of strained ties, public spats, and Harry’s memoir ‘Spare.’
Is it a step towards reconciliation?
Sources suggest that both father and son are determined to meet, describing the mood as “cautiously hopeful.” One insider revealed, “Nobody is pretending the wider family issues have been resolved, but this is about beginning with Charles and Harry. For the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach.”
Unlike the formal meetings, this reunion is expected to be low-key, “a simple face-to-face conversation” rather than a staged photo opportunity.
Despite years of tension, Harry has signalled a shift in tone. Earlier this year, he told the BBC he still “longed for reconciliation.” “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious,” he said, adding that he had “forgiven” his family for past disagreements.
William says no to the meeting
Prince William has reportedly declined Harry’s invitation to meet, rejecting it “out of hand,” according to royal insiders. The distance between the brothers remains a raw wound, and for now, it seems the Prince of Wales has no appetite for healing it. There have been a lot of hints of reconciliation since July, when Harry’s press team was spotted meeting privately with the King’s communications secretary in London.
Still, Charles faces a delicate balancing act. His calendar in September is already packed, including hosting US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle on September 17. Carving out private time with Harry adds another layer of complexity to an already sensitive month.
The Duchess of Sussex has not visited the UK since September 2022, during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Instead, she will remain in Montecito with the couple’s children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4.
For Charles, that absence cuts deep. Friends of the king say his lack of contact with his grandchildren has been a source of profound sorrow. The last time he saw Archie and Lilibet was back in June 2022, during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. At the time, Archie was only three, and Lilibet had just turned one
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