Prince William and King Charles reportedly had a "frosty exchange" during last weekend's Trooping the Colour festivities, following news that Prince Harry plans to return to the UK with his family next month. The Duke of Sussex is expected to bring his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for the first time in four years, potentially leading to a reunion with the monarch.
Details of the Reported Tension
According to The Mail on Sunday, royal insiders revealed that King Charles's willingness to see Harry has caused friction with Prince William, who is reportedly opposed to any reconciliation with his brother. The Duke of Sussex has not spoken to the Prince of Wales since the late Queen's funeral in September 2022, following a series of claims made in interviews and his memoir, Spare, after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
Sources told the outlet that the "King's relationship with William is not in a good place" and that the pair is at a "very low ebb." The tension was evident at Trooping the Colour, where William allegedly learned of the Sussexes' arrival just hours before the ceremony. William reportedly told his father that reconciling with Harry is a "misjudgment."
Witness Accounts and Denials
One insider stated: "Queen Camilla, King Charles, and the Princess of Wales were not outwardly warm together that day and the reason was not just the protesters. Relations were decidedly frosty backstage." Another added: "So much of what they do is performative. But there was little performance on display that day." However, other sources close to the monarch and the heir vehemently denied these claims, describing their relationship as "incredibly positive" and "unchanged."
Harry and Meghan have reportedly been offered accommodation at a royal residence, though they have yet to respond. The potential visit could mark the first time the King meets his American grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, in person.
