Prince Harry and King Charles Meet for First Time in 20 Months
LONDON – BritainS prince Harry met with his father, King Charles, on Tuesday, marking the first time they have seen each other in 20 months, according to reports. The meeting comes after a period of strained relations stemming from Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle’s, departure for California in 2020 and subsequent criticisms of the royal family in interviews, documentaries, and Harry’s autobiography, Spare.
Harry leveled notably critical comments toward Charles and his brother,Prince William,in Spare,leading to a breakdown in his relationship with his family.Despite this, Harry expressed a desire for reconciliation following a May legal defeat regarding his security arrangements with the British government.”Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book.Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things. But you know … I would love reconciliation with my family … There’s no point in continuing to fight any more. And life is precious,” he told the BBC. He also noted his father’s health, stating, “I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me as of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”
Prior to the visit, both Buckingham Palace and Harry’s representatives remained silent about the possibility of a meeting. However, in July, Charles’s communications chief and Harry’s media representatives were photographed at a private meeting in London, signaling potential steps toward reconciliation.
Historian Anthony Seldon emphasized the importance of mending the relationship for both the monarchy and the individuals involved. “The king is the king, but he’s also a human being and a loving father,” Seldon told Reuters. “I think the rift will have caused both of them a lot of anguish. So if that can be healed, at least in part, now or afterward, then that’s all to the good.”
