A recent reunion between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and King Charles may not have been a completely smooth family affair, according to royal author Christopher Andersen.
Andersen told Page Six that "one gets the sense that, from Meghan’s perspective, the reunion with Charles and Camilla wasn’t entirely warm and fuzzy." However, a palace source questioned the author's insight into the private meeting.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with King Charles and Queen Camilla earlier this month. This marked the first time the children had seen their grandfather in four years and the first meeting since the monarch's cancer diagnosis. The reunion took place at Highgrove House, King Charles's country residence in Gloucestershire, England. No photos of the meeting are expected to be released.
The Sussexes' visit reportedly encountered several difficulties. Page Six exclusively reported that the couple was denied taxpayer-funded security and that Buckingham Palace withdrew an offer for them to stay at a royal residence, leaving Prince Harry largely on his own during the trip. One source told People that the visit "turned into a nightmare" for Markle, who reportedly had to leave earlier than planned with the children.
Prince Harry has been involved in legal proceedings to secure security for his family during visits to the UK, but these requests have been repeatedly denied.
Andersen suggested that Markle may feel more comfortable in her Montecito home and is not looking to reintegrate into royal life. "it’s fairly clear that Markle feels more secure in [her home] in Montecito, and doesn’t want to give the impression that she will be any part of a return to royal life," he said. Page Six also reported that Prince Harry was overheard at the TIME 100 Sports Gala saying that Markle and their children were "happy" to be back in California after their brief U.K. visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and have since established themselves in California, pursuing various media and lifestyle ventures.
Neither a spokesperson for the Sussexes nor Buckingham Palace provided a comment when contacted by Page Six.