Prince Harry arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday, the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, prompting renewed speculation over whether he will meet with his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months.
The duke visited the monarch’s grave in Windsor to pay his respects and lay flowers, a gesture that coincided with his appearance in London for the WellChild Awards, an event he has long supported. Harry and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from senior royal duties and moved to California in 2020, and contact between Harry and senior royals has been limited since their departure and a series of public disclosures.
The last reported meeting between Harry and Charles took place in February 2024, when the prince flew to the U.K. after learning of the king’s cancer diagnosis; they spent about 45 minutes together before Charles traveled to Sandringham to continue treatment. Harry was in London again in April, when the Court of Appeal rejected his attempt to restore a police protection detail that had been withdrawn after he ceased being a working royal. The king was on a state visit to Italy at that time, making a meeting impossible.
The police protection case had been a significant sticking point because it required Harry to criticize the government in court, a move that complicated prospects for reconciliation. When the case was resolved, Harry spoke of a desire to repair family ties, saying in a BBC interview that he would “love reconciliation with my family” and that “there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.” He added, “Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
At the same time, Harry has spoken forcefully about the decision in 2020 to withdraw his and Meghan’s security, saying it left the family exposed and that he would “probably always struggle to forgive” what he described as a choice that put them “in harm’s way.” Those remarks, along with the couple’s high-profile interviews, a Netflix series and Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, have strained relations and aired private disputes publicly.
Spare detailed candid accounts of family conversations and alleged infighting within the royal household, including an exchange the book said took place in a graveyard in which the king implored his sons, “Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery.” The disclosures intensified public scrutiny of the family rift and complicated efforts at reconciliation.
Observers have pointed to signs of a softening in tone this summer. In July, members of Harry and Meghan’s new communications team were photographed speaking with the king’s press representative in London, an encounter described in some British media as a discreet step toward dialogue. The apparent contact between handlers suggested at least tacit consent from both sides for limited engagement.
Harry’s scheduled appearance at the WellChild Awards on Monday night—an event honoring seriously ill children and their caregivers—underscored his continuing commitment to charitable causes associated with his former royal role. In a statement released by the charity, Harry said the awardees’ stories “remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.”
King Charles, 76, who is continuing cancer treatment, faces the prospect of reduced time to reconcile with his son and to spend time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. Those family considerations have been cited by commentators as a possible incentive for both sides to consider rapprochement.
Harry has said he believes reconciliation requires truth and has placed the onus for any rapprochement on his family. “It would be nice to have that reconciliation part now,” he told the BBC after the court case ended. “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
For now, the visit centers on public engagements and private gestures of respect, while the question of a meeting between father and son remains unresolved. Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any private discussions or a meeting between Harry and the king during this trip.