Prince Harry said he will make his cancer‑stricken father, King Charles, his “focus” for the coming year after a brief reunion in London last week.
Speaking to The Guardian on the day he turned 41, the Duke of Sussex said the private meeting with the king had brought a desire to spend more time in the United Kingdom closer to reality. "The focus really has to be on my dad," Harry said. When asked whether he would like to "spend more time in the UK" and to "bring his children one day," he replied, "Yes I would. This week has definitely brought that closer."
The duke made a four‑day visit to England during which he attended a series of charity events in London before meeting the monarch. Royal observers reported he arrived by car at Clarence House at about 5:20 p.m. local time on Wednesday for a private tea with King Charles. The face‑to‑face meeting lasted about 55 minutes and was the first in‑person contact between the two in some 20 months.
Moments after leaving the residence, Harry told a royal watcher who asked about the king, "He's great, thank you." He also told The Guardian that his aim in the coming year is to prioritise his father's health and their relationship.
In the interview, Harry addressed criticism surrounding his 2023 memoir, Spare, saying the book "was not about revenge" or airing "dirty laundry." He described it as "a series of corrections to stories already out there" and said, "One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear. It is not about revenge, it is about accountability."
Harry's comments follow earlier public exchanges in which he described strained family relations. In May, he told the BBC that the king had refused to speak to him and said he would "love reconciliation with my family," adding, "I don't know how much longer my father has." Those remarks came as the prince and other members of the royal family continued to navigate tensions that followed Harry's departure from official royal duties and subsequent media disclosures.
The reunion in London came amid a pattern of intermittent contacts between Harry and members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace and Clarence House have not disclosed further details about the meeting beyond confirming a private audience took place. Harry's London visit included philanthropic engagements tied to causes he supports, and his brief presence in the capital appeared to be a mix of public duties and private family talks.
The duke's statement that his father will be his focus in the coming year signals an intention to seek closer contact while the king manages his health. Both men have publicly expressed a desire for reconciliation at various points, but a sustained rapprochement has yet to be reported. Officials have offered limited comment, and the wider royal household's communications remain tightly controlled as the family balances public duties with private matters.