Harry Has ‘No Plans’ to Meet Charles During Upcoming UK Visit — and the King May Not Mind
Following the recent update surrounding the potential reinstatement of Prince Harry's taxpayer-funded security, royal fans celebrated, believing it could finally open the door to a reunion with King Charles. With the decision still pending, the Duke of Sussex appears to be proceeding cautiously. On January 19, he is set to touch base in the UK for the opening of his highly publicized High Court privacy claim against Associated Newspapers. However, unlike his September visit, he is not expected to visit Charles at Clarence House this time.
According to the Telegraph, Harry has 'no plans' to see Charles for his upcoming visit. However, there seems to be no bad blood behind his decision; rather, a lack of confirmation surrounding the trial timetable. The outlet understands that the Duke of Sussex has not yet booked his flight tickets to the UK. With multiple commitments in the US, he would be in the UK only for a few days, operating on a tight schedule. Moreover, the King, who usually steps back from public duties for much of January, is expected to be in Scotland at the time of Harry's visit. Royal sources suggested that he does not want to be associated with any ongoing court proceedings and would prefer keeping his distance.
Regardless of the outcome of the Associated Newspapers case, the Duke is determined to attend the opening of the proceedings. His upcoming UK trip could also be his last without taxpayer-funded security. Last month, he was granted the full risk assessment he had long sought, following a U-turn reversal by the Home Office. On January 6, an official review reportedly found that he met the criteria for inclusion in publicly funded security cover.
While royal watchers hope that Charles and Harry could reunite soon, sooner or later, the monarch is reportedly in two minds about welcoming his youngest back in the royal fold. In an article for the Daily Mail, royal expert Rebecca English alleged, "The King would never wish his younger son ill and has been 'pained' by the circumstances around their estrangement," adding, "he also remains extremely 'wary' of welcoming him back, given events of the past few years." Insiders also claimed that the attempts by the Sussexes' PR team to suggest a father-son reconciliation is imminent are "somewhat wide of the mark."
Harry's last successful meeting with Charles was in September last year, when they met for private tea at Clarence House. On September 10, the Duke was spotted arriving by car at 5:20 pm, departing an hour later from Buckingham Palace. Following the meeting, Harry, in an interview with The Guardian, mentioned, "The focus has to be on my father," while adding that he was definitely 'closer' to bringing his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the UK.