King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, Meghan, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, at their private residence in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, on Friday. This marked the first reunion between the monarch and his grandchildren since 2022.
The meeting was organized with considerable secrecy. Charles, who has been undergoing cancer treatment, had not seen his California-based grandchildren since they were toddlers. Prince Harry last saw his father in September. The reunion occurred while Harry was in the UK for events related to the Invictus Games.
Meghan and the children reportedly traveled to Britain unnoticed from their European holiday home. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the private family occasion. Sources described the situation as sad for the 77-year-old King, who has faced criticism from his son through interviews, documentaries, and a memoir.
Meanwhile, Prince William, the heir to the throne, attended a charity polo match at Windsor with his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales. The brothers were geographically close, with William at Windsor and Harry in Birmingham for an Invictus Games event, but did not publicly interact.
Harry's visit to the UK had been preceded by speculation about Meghan's public appearances. Initially, it was announced she would join him for a series of engagements, but her participation was later scaled back, with a spokesperson stating she would no longer take part in public events but would attend private family moments. She was also expected to attend a family gathering at Althorp, Princess Diana's ancestral home.
During his event in Birmingham, Harry participated in a year-long countdown to the next Invictus Games, scheduled to return to the UK in July. He gave an interview to Alison Hammond for the program This Morning and delivered a speech encouraging attendees to learn from the Invictus community.