Prince Harry Had a Secret Meeting with Another Royal During UK Visit — But Left with a Big 'Regret'
Prince Harry’s UK trip made headlines for his long-awaited reunion with King Charles, signaling a healthy step toward mending their rift. While the Duke of Sussex was delighted to see his father, he also secretly met another royal to comfort him in his grief. A source recently confirmed that the Duke met Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, to pay his condolences for the Duchess of Kent's passing. They added that Harry’s ‘only regret’ in the trip was not spending enough time with loved ones, owing to his packed schedule.
The source told royal correspondents Andrea Caamano and Emily Nash that the secret meeting with the Duke of Kent happened at Kensington Palace. The Prince is reportedly looking forward to coming back and doing more engagements. Speaking on HELLO!’s A Right Royal podcast, the hosts claimed the insider having revealed, "His [Harry’s] only regret was not being able to stay longer and see more people, but the meetings in Ukraine had been in the diary for a long time and it mattered to him to be there in person to see the Invictus Games Foundation's growing work and the progress at Superhumans." The source added, "The whole trip felt like a real success for everyone involved. His passion for his patronages and the causes he cares about hasn’t dimmed one bit. He’s already buzzing to get back and do more."
Interestingly, the Duke of Sussex was tipped to attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, which would have meant meeting Prince William. However, he flew back on September 14 from Ukraine to California to mark a special occasion with Meghan Markle and their two children. Speaking to HELLO!, royal expert Danielle Stacey explained, "With his UK and Ukraine trip combined, Prince Harry will have spent quite a bit of time away from Meghan and their children, so no doubt, he will want to get back to California to be reunited with his family – and in time for his 41st birthday."
While Harry’s absence disappointed some royal observers, many chose to focus instead on his successful reunion with Charles. On September 10, the Prince was seen arriving by car at Clarence House at 5:20 p.m. to meet the King, leaving approximately 55 minutes later. Following the meeting, Buckingham Palace and the Duke’s spokesperson confirmed that Charles and Harry had shared a private tea. The estranged father and son met after 19 months, their last meeting taking place in February 2024 following the monarch's cancer diagnosis.
Harry touched down in the UK on September 8 to attend the WellChild Awards, for which he is a patron. His packed schedule for the week included a visit to the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham on September 9 and a surprise visit to Ukraine on September 12. In Kyiv, the Duke urged injured veterans to rely on those close to them. He said, "Open up to your friends and family, because in doing so, you give them permission to do the same."