Prince Harry finally met with his father, King Charles, during his visit to the UK this week.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, returned to Britain on Monday, September 8, his first trip since losing a court battle earlier this year over his level of police protection while in the country. The main reason for his visit was to attend the WellChild Awards in London, but Harry also made time for several charity engagements.
For days, speculation had swirled over whether Harry and the King would actually meet amid their ongoing strained relationship. On Wednesday, it was confirmed — father and son did in fact reunite.
A Quiet Meeting at Clarence House
On September 10, Harry was seen arriving at Clarence House, the King’s London residence, at around 5:20pm. Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the two met “for a private tea.”
Harry reportedly spent 55 minutes inside. It marked the first time the pair had been together since February, when Harry flew back to see his father shortly after Charles revealed his cancer diagnosis.
After the meeting, Harry headed to the Swiss Re building — known as the Gherkin — to attend an Invictus Games reception. When asked by reporters how the King was doing, Harry replied: “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
King Charles Returns from Scotland
The timing of the reunion came as King Charles himself had just returned to London. He spent the summer in Balmoral, Scotland, in keeping with royal tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria.
Alongside Queen Camilla, Charles attended the Braemar Gathering, one of the season’s final Highland games. On Monday, he also marked Accession Day at Balmoral, reflecting on the anniversary of becoming king. He returned to Clarence House on Wednesday — shortly before Harry arrived.
Signs of Reconciliation?
The reunion has sparked questions about whether it might mark the beginning of healing between father and son.
Back in May, Harry spoke candidly to the BBC, saying: “I would love a reconciliation with my family. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me. But it would be nice to reconcile.”
Since stepping down as a working royal in 2020 with Meghan Markle, Harry has openly shared his struggles within the monarchy, both in interviews and in his 2023 memoir Spare. Those revelations deepened tensions with Charles and with Prince William.
Whether this meeting signals a turning point or simply a brief exchange remains to be seen. But for the first time in months, King Charles and Prince Harry did sit down together — a small but meaningful step forward.