Royal biographer Robert Jobson has revealed that Queen Camilla played a "very significant" role during Prince Harry's long-awaited meeting with King Charles at Highgrove House. Speaking on the Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast, Jobson said her presence was crucial given Harry's past criticism of his stepmother.
Meeting Details
On July 10, 2026, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Lilibet and Archie, met with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove. This was the first time the children had seen their grandfather since the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. No photographs were released, and the event was described as a "private" family occasion.
Jobson explained: "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." He added that the couple were "covering each other" and that Camilla's presence made it more difficult for Harry and Meghan to "push the King, who was a very kind man, a gentle man, I think, into a corner."
Strained Relationship
The relationship between 41-year-old Prince Harry and his stepmother has historically been tense, with Harry previously branding her as "dangerous" and a "villain" in his memoir. Despite this, Queen Camilla attended the summit, which Jobson described as a strategic move to ensure transparency and support for the King.
The gathering was overshadowed by a bitter exchange between Harry's representatives and Buckingham Palace regarding accommodation arrangements, with both sides briefing journalists. Security concerns also arose, with a source close to the Sussexes telling 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 Return to UK
Meghan Markle's visit marked her first return to the UK in four years. She had intended to accompany Harry at events connected to the Invictus Games, but reportedly felt unable to participate in public appearances due to security concerns. Despite this, supporters of Harry's role in the Invictus Games have praised his dedication. David Wiseman, a prominent figure within the Invictus organisation, 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." He 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 further noted: "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."
