Prince Harry described himself as feeling "buoyed" and "really energised" following a family reunion with his father, King Charles, and stepmother, Queen Camilla. The Duke of Sussex was reportedly "very happy" that his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, joined him for the visit to Highgrove, the King's country residence. This marks the first time in four years that the monarch has seen his grandchildren.
The meeting is understood to have taken place on Friday afternoon, lasting for over an hour. It was particularly significant as it was the first in-person encounter between the King and his son's children since 2022. The King, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, was reportedly determined to see his grandchildren.
Friends of Prince Harry claimed he was "buoyed, very happy and really energised" after the reunion. This visit occurred during a week in which Harry experienced a legal setback, losing his privacy court case against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The Duke arrived in Britain earlier in the week and had also attended Invictus Games engagements. An observer noted Harry appeared to have a "massive smile" on his face at an Invictus Games event on Friday.
Meghan Markle's presence at the meeting was notable. She had previously skipped some of Harry's Invictus Games events due to his ongoing dispute with the U.K. government regarding taxpayer-funded police protection. The family is believed to have been staying at Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire.
Following the Highgrove visit, Prince Harry appeared in high spirits at Scotty's Summer Festival in Warwickshire on Saturday. As global ambassador for the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers, which supports bereaved military families, he engaged with children and participated in activities including "goat yoga."
During his time in Warwickshire, Harry spoke about the importance of sharing feelings, stating, "I love being here, this is the highlight of my month. Actually probably the last few months. It’s very easy to sit in your grief, to sit in your stress but, guys, if you are feeling it, share it."
Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting as a "private family occasion" but offered no further details. Palace officials had privately described the arrangements for the Sussexes' trip as "wearying" earlier in the week. Prince Harry also recorded an episode for "The Celebrity Traitors" star Joe Marler's podcast during his UK visit, discussing topics such as trauma, coping mechanisms, identity, and grief.