Prince Harry has left Chatham House following an Invictus Games event, as the Duke of Sussex continues his visit to the UK. The King, who hopes to meet his son and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle later this week, also conducted public engagements today.
Harry's Public Return and Hospital Visit
Prince Harry is set to be back in the public eye today after carrying out private meetings just half a mile from King Charles. The Duke of Sussex will visit Birmingham Children's Hospital in his role as patron of the charity WellChild. He is travelling to the Midlands ahead of the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in the city tomorrow.
Yesterday, Harry held private meetings without media presence at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, following his High Court defeat against the Daily Mail publisher. Plans for pool media coverage changed the day before, attributed to the heatwave.
King Charles's Engagements and Hopes for Reunion
While Harry's meetings took place, the King was just a short distance away, meeting police officers who dealt with the Bedfordshire train crash at the new British Transport Police headquarters in central London.
It comes as the King hopes to meet Harry and Meghan this week, paving the way for an emotional reunion with his grandchildren. Charles has instructed senior aides to engage in ongoing talks with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to secure time in his busy diary around his public duties. Royal sources revealed that the King is hopeful of arranging the summit and would not want to pass up the opportunity of seeing Harry's children, Archie and Lilibet.
Security Concerns and Planning
Prince Harry is said to be trying to organise last-minute security to safely bring his wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet to the UK. Harry arrived in the UK earlier this week, but after his security request was denied by the Home Office, he made the trip solo. While Meghan and the children did not join him for his London trip, it is believed they may head to Britain when Harry travels to Birmingham.
Plans being discussed by the King and Harry include the possibility of Meghan and the children flying into the UK for just 24 hours. A royal source told the Mirror: "While nothing has been ruled out, conversations remain ongoing." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had previously made plans to stay with Harry's uncle, Charles Spencer, at his family home Althorp House in Northampton.
King's Determination to Meet Grandchildren
The King has reportedly instructed palace aides to find time in his busy schedule to meet with his son Prince Harry, his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, and his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet. Harry arrived in the UK on Monday solo, after his wife and children stayed behind over security fears. However, it is rumoured that Meghan and the kids may come to Britain for a limited time when Harry travels to Birmingham for a major Invictus Games event.
Royal sources have claimed that senior aides to Charles are trying to find time for the monarch to meet with the Sussexes, despite a busy diary of several events. A source said: "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."
The King, 77, has only met Archie, seven, on a handful of occasions when Harry and Meghan lived in the UK and only met five-year-old Lilibet once when the family returned for the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
