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Prince Harry Slammed as 'Deluded' Over His 'Secret' Strategy to Reunite With King Charles

King Charles and Prince Harry attend the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
King Charles and Prince Harry attend the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Jan. 08 2026, Published 07:03 AM. ET
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After reports surfaced that Prince Harry met the criteria to reinstate his taxpayer-funded security, royal watchers grew hopeful that his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, could soon reunite with King Charles in the UK. Likewise, the Duke of Sussex is also clinging to the hope that his father might visit his grandchildren in the US, paving the way for a reunion. Weighing in on the same, TV presenter Mark Dolan warned that the Duke's tactic would fail, arguing that a duty-bound Charles would not derail a global state visit for sentiment alone.

Prince Harry and King Charles, attend the 'International Year of The Reef' 2018. Image Source: Getty Images | Matt Dunham- WPA Pool
Prince Harry and King Charles attended the 'International Year of the Reef' in 2018. (Image Source: Getty Images | Matt Dunham- WPA Pool)

According to sources, the Duke is hopeful that Charles will visit his home during his state visit for the 250th anniversary of US independence this year. An insider told The Sun, "He [Harry] knows that they are strained, but he has mentioned several times a hope that his father can have a relationship with his grandchildren." Commenting on the same, Dolan branded Harry's alleged plans to use his children as his 'secret weapons' delusional. He told the Daily Express, "It shows just how deluded Harry is if he thinks that Charles is going to interrupt a rather important global tour to the US…and make a trip to that [mansion in Montecito]...he's got another thing coming." 

A family portrait of Prince Harry, along with his wife Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lillibet. (Cover Image Source: Archewell Foundation)
A family portrait of Prince Harry with Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet. (Image Source: Alexi Lubomirski| Archewell Foundation)

Continuing his blistering take-down, Dolan added that Harry only wanted Charles to visit him in Montecito to 'validate' himself, rather than for his children. He stressed, "He [Harry] wants Charles to acknowledge him and sprinkle a little bit of that royal stardust over him, and I don't think it’s going to happen." Shutting down all possibilities of a reunion, he added, "It's an act of total desperation on the part of Harry to think that Charles is going to go from a quick blink-and-you-miss-it half an hour chat at Clarence House to a full state visit to their Montecito compound."

King Charles poses for an official portrait to mark the 50th anniversary of his Investiture taken at their Welsh residence Llwynywormwood on July 2, 2019 in Myddfai, Wales, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images For Clarence House)
King Charles poses for an official portrait to mark the 50th anniversary of his Investiture. (Image Source: Getty Images| Chris Jackson For Clarence House)

Harry and Charles have not met in person since September last year, with that meeting lasting less than an hour. Meanwhile, the King has not seen the Sussex children since 2022, having met Lilibet only once. Royal commentator Jasmine Carey also suggested that the fractured bond between father and son may not fully recover until the Duke brings his children to meet their grandfather in the UK. Writing for the Daily Express, she explained, "This is because, as well as being monarch, Charles is also a loving, caring family man. And as a loving and fun grandad, it is no surprise that not seeing his other grandchildren, Harry's children, is a source of anguish for the monarch."

The royal expert also argued that Harry's security concerns behind bringing his children to the UK could be revisited once his recent review gets underway. Although Charles has other grandchildren through Prince William, Carey reiterated that he would "no doubt still be wishing for a relationship with Archie and Lilibet." Even if tensions between father and son are easing, a full reconciliation remains unlikely unless Harry makes a genuine effort by reintegrating his entire family into the King's life.

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