King Charles and Prince Harry’s Potential Reunion To Be Threatened by a Royal Tradition
The prospect of King Charles and Prince Harry finally sitting down together has been floated many times in recent years, but the timing has rarely been right. With the Duke of Sussex due back in Britain next month, hopes have surfaced again, though the chances of a royal reunion appear far-fetched. Harry will be in London on September 8 for the annual WellChild Awards, an event he has long supported. But the date is significant for the monarchy and the country as it also marks three years since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The overlap and Harry’s return have fuelled speculation that the estranged royals might try to bridge the gap.
This would be Harry’s first visit to the UK since his high-profile legal defeat over his security arrangements. Commentators note that his trips home are often brief, sometimes lasting only a matter of hours. That pattern, they suggest, leaves little scope for a relaxed reunion.“We have all become quite used to Harry coming and going without seeing his family. His visits are generally extremely brief,” said royal commentator Jennie Bond to The Mirror. “If this standard were to be followed, the father and son would naturally have a short time window to meet.”
The complication is geography as much as emotion. King Charles is expected to be in Scotland for the anniversary of his mother’s passing, while Harry will be in London for the awards ceremony. Bond said, “The King is usually up in Scotland for the anniversary of his mother’s death. So arranging a meeting may not be straightforward.” For Harry, the day may also carry its own private rituals. Royal correspondent Cameron Walker for GB News suggested the Duke is likely to travel to Windsor Castle for a quiet tribute at St George’s Chapel, where the late Queen is buried. “I suspect he may make a trip to Windsor Castle to pay respects at the grave of his grandmother. I’d be highly surprised if he didn’t do that,” Walker said.
Even with such obstacles, the appetite for a reconciliation window seems open, even while several commentators have argued it has 'receded further.' Bond has argued for some time that the onus lies with the monarch to take the first step. “I have always thought that it is the parent’s role to be the bigger person in any family row: you just have to open your arms and say to your child – albeit a grown-up child – ‘Come here, you silly so-and-so, and give me a hug,’” she said.
The path to a meeting may be clearer now than in the recent past. Harry’s court battle over his security had once been seen as a block to constructive dialogue, but that case is now over. “Now that that court case is over, a major obstacle to a meeting has been cleared,” Bond further noted, explaining that communication channels appear to have reopened, with aides from both sides in contact in recent weeks.
According to one insider quoted by The Mirror, the desire to make progress is shared on both fronts. “It’s clear there is now a determination on both sides to make this happen. For the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach. After 20 months apart, and with the King continuing his treatment, the feeling is that the time is right to take that step.”