King Charles met Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time since 2022 when the Sussex family visited Highgrove House on July 10. The King and Queen Camilla welcomed them during their overseas trip, which also included stops in Portugal and Scotland.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are raising Archie, who was born in the UK in 2019, and Lilibet, who was born in the US one year after the family relocated there, in Montecito, California.
Why Meghan was there
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said Meghan's presence was likely to protect the children, who may have wondered why their mother was not included had she been absent.
“It’s a good thing that [Meghan] was part of the family reunion at Highgrove a few weeks ago,” Bond told the Mirror. She added that “the children deserve to see some family harmony: it would have been damaging to have to explain that their mother wasn’t invited.”
Meghan's focus after returning to the US
Meghan has reportedly been very happy to have returned to the US after the visit. According to Bond, Meghan is “intelligent” and understands she is not popular in the UK, with her focus likely on three main areas.
“I think her eyes are firmly set on their lives in California, their children and her business ventures,” Bond said.
Meghan's last visit to the UK before this one was in 2022.
