Royal biographer Robert Jobson has described Queen Camilla's attendance at the private meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles as "very significant." The summit took place at Highgrove House on July 10, 2026, during Harry's brief UK visit, which also included his wife Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
Camilla's Role as Support and Witness
Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast, Jobson explained that Camilla's presence was crucial given Harry's past criticisms of her. Harry has previously referred to his stepmother as "dangerous" and a "villain." Jobson said: "The one thing that I think is very significant in all of this, given that Harry was not overly critical of the King, but he was very critical of Queen Camilla, was that she was there to support the King because she was also there to witness what was said."
Jobson added that Camilla's presence made it "more difficult for them to almost push the King, who was a very kind man, a gentle man, I think, into a corner." He noted that Harry and Meghan have a tendency to try to get what they want, and Camilla's attendance helped protect the King's interests.
First Family Reunion Since 2022
The Highgrove meeting marked the first time that Archie and Lilibet had seen their grandfather since the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. No photographs were released from the private family event, which was described as a "private" occasion.
The reunion came after a public war of words between Harry's team and Buckingham Palace over accommodation and security arrangements. A source close to the Duke and Duchess told The Times: "This is not the first time it has not been plain sailing with correspondence or trying to make things work. It all comes back to security. If that was resolved, there would be so much more certainty every time he comes — or they come."
Meghan's First UK Visit in Four Years
Meghan's attendance was her first visit to the UK in four years. She had planned to join Harry at several Invictus Games engagements, but reportedly felt disappointed not to have undertaken any public events due to security concerns.
Despite calls from some quarters for Harry to step down from his Invictus Games role, supporters emphasize his dedication. David Wiseman, a key figure within the Invictus organization, told People magazine: "Bearing in mind how much he's got going on in different facets of his life, he's showing how dedicated he is to the Invictus movement." Wiseman added that Harry had "committed so much of his time and energy to the Invictus Games Foundation, events and everything that's building towards the games in 2027."
Wiseman praised Harry's leadership: "I've said this before: [Harry is] through and through a true leader in the international veteran community. You can see that when he's in a room with [the veterans] he comes alive and he gets his energy from that. It's been a distracting week for him, but I'm also positive he will have gained a lot of energy by hanging out with people with whom he has so much affinity."
