Prince Harry's planned meeting with his father, King Charles, and his grandchildren is uncertain, with time running out for the two to connect during Harry's current visit to the United Kingdom. A royal insider indicated that opportunities for a meeting were limited to specific days, and the presence of Meghan Markle and the children could influence the possibility of a reunion.
Harry arrived in London on Monday, shortly after learning of his lost court battle against Associated Newspapers. He had previously announced plans to bring his children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to the UK to see their grandfather. However, this plan was altered due to security concerns, specifically Harry's ongoing dispute over his ability to have armed security in his home country. He recently lost a legal challenge on this matter.
This week, Harry has been involved in private meetings in London related to the Invictus Games Foundation. He is scheduled to visit Birmingham on Thursday in his capacity as Patron of WellChild, where he will attend the city's Children's Hospital. On Friday, he will participate in events with competitors from past Invictus Games at the National Exhibition Centre, the venue for the 2027 games. A charity event in nearby Warwickshire is planned for Saturday.
Another source suggested that a meeting with King Charles, 77, who is undergoing cancer treatment, might occur late Saturday or Sunday. However, the source also noted that the recent court ruling, in which Harry accused journalists of hacking communications, has made any potential meeting more awkward. Harry called the ruling a "whitewash."
"It's hard to see [a meeting] happening now after the ruling," the source stated. Harry last met with his father in September, during a previous London visit. The King primarily divides his time between London and Windsor.
Reports on Harry's accommodation added to the week's complications. An initial announcement that he would stay at Buckingham Palace was later denied by the palace, which stated he had missed an RSVP deadline for an invitation. Sources close to Harry countered that finding accommodation for him would have been feasible.
Harry has expressed a desire for reconciliation with his family, following public revelations about royal life in his memoir "Spare," the Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," and his 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. In a previous interview, Harry stated that the security dispute had always been the "sticking point" in his relationship with the King and expressed a wish for reconciliation, emphasizing the preciousness of life.