King Charles has opened talks with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, aiming to meet this week and reunite with his grandchildren Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. The King instructed senior aides to find time in his diary around his public duties, according to royal sources.
Background of Strained Relations
The King, 77, has only met Archie a handful of times when Harry and Meghan lived in the UK, and met Lilibet once during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Relations have been fractious since the couple quit royal roles in March 2020 and moved to the United States. However, several one-to-one conversations between father and son have taken place in recent weeks, described as “hopeful” by a source.
Current Negotiations
Both parties are committed to making a meeting work, providing an opportunity for Harry to spend time with his father and the King with his grandchildren. A royal source said: “While nothing has been ruled out, conversations remain ongoing.” Another source added: “The King would not pass up the opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren and if there is a way of making it possible, he will do it.”
Plans include the possibility of Meghan and the children flying into the UK for just 24 hours. Harry is reportedly “frantically” trying to secure extra private security for his family. The couple had previously planned to stay with Harry’s uncle Charles Spencer at Althorp House in Northampton.
Recent Challenges
Harry jetted into London alone on Monday, July 8, 2026, after a family holiday in Europe. He faced a bruising week after being denied the opportunity to stay at Buckingham Palace and losing a court case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, which he and six others accused of illegal information gathering. The judge dismissed all allegations, leading Harry to label the result an “obvious whitewash.”
Harry’s request to stay at Buckingham Palace was denied for two reasons: his response to the offer was received too late, and the court judgment was deemed constitutionally sensitive for the King to host his son. Weeks earlier, Harry had to cancel plans for his whole family to accompany him after the Home Office refused taxpayer-funded security. He cited fears over his family’s safety.
Upcoming Engagements
Harry is due in Birmingham on Thursday to visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital for the 20th anniversary of the first WellChild nurse, a charity he has supported for 15 years. On Friday, he will appear at the National Exhibition Centre to celebrate the countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.
