Prince Harry’s scheduled appearance in London on Sept. 8 to attend the WellChild Awards has renewed speculation that he might seek a meeting with his father, King Charles III, even as experts say the monarch is caught between the duke and his elder brother, Prince William.
Harry, the younger son, has been estranged from the working royal family since he and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States. The couple and their supporters have publicly aired grievances about the royal institution, and Harry’s 2023 memoir "Spare" is widely seen as having deepened tensions within the House of Windsor.
Royal commentators say King Charles, who has faced recent health challenges, is in a difficult position between two sons who are reported not to be speaking to each other. "King Charles is battling cancer," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said. "The very public royal rift has been a source of grief for him. It has meant that he has not seen his grandchildren for years. Harry and his father are not speaking… Obviously, reconciliation, especially when illness is involved, is highly desirable. But for it to work, there must be mutual trust."
Ian Pelham Turner, another royal commentator, said William is reluctant to see the monarch soften his stance toward Harry. "There have been many reports in the British press that William is still extremely angry with Harry and does not want his father softening his position by meeting with him or allowing contact," Turner said. He added that it was understood King Charles feels it is his Christian duty to welcome Harry, Meghan and their family back "into the fold."
The timing of Harry’s trip — on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death — also figures in assessments of whether a meeting might take place. Some commentators said the anniversary could prompt a private reunion, noting the emotional resonance of the date for members of the royal family.
Observers have pointed to a string of encounters and near-encounters over the past year that illustrate the fraught state of relations. Charles and Harry last met in person in February 2024, following Buckingham Palace’s announcement that the king had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Since then, Harry’s visits to the U.K. have largely been for court appearances and funerals, and he and William have kept their distance at public events.
Helena Chard, a British broadcaster and photographer, said she believed William would "struggle to ever forgive Harry," adding that Harry’s actions had been a burden on their grandmother during her final years. Hilary Fordwich, a royal expert, said Charles might be the only senior royal willing to meet Harry privately but warned of the risks: "If the king concedes to a meeting with Harry, he risks alienating Prince William. If he doesn’t, he will deepen the rift with Harry and risk more backlash from his son, who was already upset last time when the king had ‘other priorities.’"
Reports in July suggested a tentative reopening of communication channels. The U.K. tabloid Daily Mail reported that Harry quietly offered to share his official engagement schedule and that aides had a private meeting with the king’s communications secretary in London. William’s representatives were reportedly not notified of that meeting and did not attend, according to the reports.
Royal aides and spokespeople for the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace have not publicly confirmed private contact. In public remarks in May, Harry said he wanted reconciliation but added that it was unclear whether the king would speak to him. "I would love reconciliation with my family," Harry told the BBC. "There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has."
Experts emphasize that any meaningful reconciliation would require privacy and rebuilt trust. Fitzwilliams said the Sussexes’ relationship with the media complicates such efforts and that trust would need to be rebuilt "slowly." Fordwich called the process likely to be lengthy, noting the family’s concern that private conversations could be leaked.
King Charles’s health remains a central factor in the calculus. Several commentators said the monarch may be cautious about inserting himself between two sons who are at odds and that he may prioritize personal and medical considerations over public reconciliation. For now, royal watchers say, the possibility of a quiet, private meeting in Scotland or elsewhere cannot be ruled out, but they caution that public signs of unity are unlikely without sustained, behind-the-scenes rebuilding of trust.