Harry’s Emotional Gift to Charles During UK Reunion Hints at Where Meghan Stands With the Royals
Prince Harry’s reunion with King Charles on September 10 was hailed a 'success', with the Duke later confirming that the meeting brought him closer to his father. However, soon reports emerged that Harry felt like an ‘official visitor’ during the meeting. The Sun, on September 26, reported details of the meeting, including that Harry had gifted Charles a photo of himself with Meghan Markle and their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In response, Harry's spokesperson blamed the Palace for the leaks, while confirming that the gift was indeed shared but did not feature either Harry or Markle.
The spokesperson told PEOPLE, "While we would have preferred such details to remain private, for the sake of clarity, we can confirm that a framed photograph was handed over; however, the image did not contain the Duke and Duchess." The statement sparked discussions that Harry may have purposely excluded Markle, possibly to avoid falling out of favor with the King, especially after a much-anticipated reunion. Charles and Markle have not been on the best of terms, after Harry cited Markle’s bullying by the press as a reason for stepping down as a senior royal in 2020 and moving to California.
The spokesperson also denied that Harry downplayed the ‘tone’ of his meeting with Charles, calling it ‘categorically false.’ "The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for The Sun explained to PEOPLE, "Prince Harry confirms the exchange of gifts, including a family photograph. The office of the Duke of Sussex was given full right of reply yesterday in advance of publication and opted not to give a response to The Sun’s carefully sourced account of the meeting."
Harry may have had a good reason for leaving Markle out of the present, as sources have previously alleged that Charles does not have a particular fondness for her, particularly after their move to the US kept him away from his grandchildren. Royal expert Jennie Bond told The Mirror, "It must remain a great sadness to the King to be so distant from his two US-based grandchildren. He hardly knows them, and there is no prospect of that changing any time soon."
Harry has also pulled back the curtains on his father’s stance on Markle in his memoir, Spare. He wrote that after Charles had called to inform him about the late Queen’s ill health, he had harshly asked him to come to Scotland alone, without Markle. He recalled having responded: "Don't ever speak about my wife that way…He [Charles] stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn't want a lot of people around."