Prince Harry and King Charles’ ‘critical issue remains in make-or-break’ reunion
King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children at Highgrove House, but royal commentator Jennie Bond warns one critical issue still lingers between the Duke and his father
Prince Harry at the Invictus 1 Year To Go Event in Birmingham(Image: Getty)
Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, hosted Prince Harry, 41, Meghan Markle, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, at Highgrove House on Friday. The Palace described the gathering at the King’s Gloucestershire residence as a “private family occasion”.
The visit represents the first time the monarch has set eyes on Archie and Lilibet in more than four years, while Meghan and Harry had not travelled to the UK together since 2022, when they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Nevertheless, royal commentator Jennie Bond has suggested that one significant issue continues to simmer between the Sussexes and the King.
Writing in The i Paper, Jennie described the weekend as a potential “make-or-finally-break moment” between Harry and his father.
The BBC’s former royal correspondent went on to assert that a “lack of trust” remains the principal obstacle between Harry and the King, stemming from the couple’s decision to relinquish their royal duties and relocate to America in 2020.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and King Charles(Image: Getty)
Matters were further complicated when Harry publicly condemned his family in both his Netflix documentary with Meghan and his candid memoir, Spare.
Jennie wrote shortly before the reunion was officially confirmed by the Palace: “Their end-of-term report would surely read: ‘Must do better.’ Trust – or rather a lack of it – between the two camps is still a critical issue.
“This weekend could be a make-or-finally-break moment in the chequered relationship between Harry and his dad.”
Despite the apparently encouraging developments between Harry and Charles, there are understood to be no arrangements for the Duke of Sussex to meet with his brother, Prince William, while he and Meghan are in the UK.
William and Harry are not expected to reconcile any time soon(Image: Getty)
Jennie also seized the moment to commend the late Princess Diana’s family for “executing a masterclass in diplomacy” in preserving a strong relationship with both of her sons, Harry and William, notwithstanding their rift.
She added: “Quietly, and without fuss, they have held true to Earl Spencer’s pledge at Diana’s funeral to protect William and Harry and allow “their souls to sing openly” as she had planned.
“Of course it has to be said that the Spencers weren’t in Harry’s firing line during his onslaught against the Palace, his father, his brother and others. So they have no reason to hold any grudges.
“They have executed a masterclass in diplomacy, staying on good terms with both brothers and showing up for Harry – for example at the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games a couple of years ago, when the royals shunned him.”