Queen Camilla was present during King Charles's reunion with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children at Highgrove on Friday, reportedly to serve as a witness to the interactions between the monarch and his younger son, according to royal author Sally Bedell Smith.
Surprise Reunion at Highgrove
Palace sources confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet at the King's Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. The meeting came as a surprise to royal fans, given the ongoing tensions between Harry and the royal family. Harry's UK trip had been filled with drama, leading many to believe the monarch might not see him or his family, who flew in for a brief visit on Friday.
It was also unexpected that Camilla was present, given Harry's past criticisms of his stepmother since stepping back from royal duties. Nevertheless, the Queen Consort stood by her husband's side for one key reason.
Camilla's Role as Witness
According to Sally Bedell Smith in her Royals Extra substack, Camilla's presence was significant. The royal author wrote: "After intense pressure, the prince ultimately got his way in securing a meeting with seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet at the royal Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. But Harry had to yield to strict conditions imposed by Buckingham Palace: no photographs, nothing on social media, no advance leaks to the press, and no descriptions of what took place except a brief confirmation from the King's office that it had occurred."
Smith added: "Significantly, Queen Camilla was by her husband’s side, not least to serve as a witness to Charles’s interactions with his volatile younger son—as she had been in February 2024 when Harry came to London after Charles’s cancer diagnosis was revealed."
Meghan's Presence and Meeting Details
Smith noted that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was present but otherwise absent from the events of the past week. The meeting lasted just over an hour, and no details about the discussions have been shared. No other royals, including Prince William, were present.
This was the first visit to the United Kingdom by Harry with his family since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2022.
