The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, reunited with King Charles for a private family gathering at Highgrove House, the monarch's Gloucestershire residence. The meeting, which took place on Friday, July 10, 2026, marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, since the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. However, reports suggest the reunion was far from harmonious, leaving the Sussexes 'furious' and disappointed.
Details of the Reunion
Prince Harry had returned to the UK for a series of engagements, including marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games. He then travelled to Highgrove House, where he was joined by Meghan and their two children. The family flew in from Portugal, where they have been based. King Charles and Queen Camilla, 78, hosted the gathering, which was confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
Reactions and Sources
TalkTV host Kevin O'Sullivan addressed the reunion on his show, saying: "Suddenly, it's all up in the air but they managed to fly in Meghan, Archie and Lilibet from Portugal. We didn't get to see them. They went straight to Highgrove and at last the King got to see his grandchildren. But it was all just a mess, wasn't it?"
Royal biographer Angela Levin, who spoke on the same show, shared insights from her sources. She claimed: "It was a mess. What is very interesting about it is, the King insisted Camilla would be with him. Camilla is very particular about how people talk to him and particularly Harry." Levin suggested that the meeting did not go as the Sussexes had hoped. "The two of them could not do what they wanted," she said, alleging that "Harry had sent in a list of what he wanted. He stayed in one of the palaces. Everything was going to be what they wanted. They didn't get a thing." Levin concluded: "I think [Harry and Meghan] they must have absolutely hated it. There would have been conversation, but not very warm."
Privacy and Reconciliation Efforts
Both the palace and the Sussexes are reportedly determined to keep details of the meeting private to help advance reconciliation efforts. Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, reported that the palace would not comment on the meeting or how long it lasted. A source told Nicholl that the King was "adamant" about keeping the meeting private, and Harry "assured" his father that he wouldn't speak publicly about the family get-together.
