Prince Harry Touches Down in London Amid Royal Reunion Buzz — But Where Is King Charles?
Prince Harry's trip to the UK has stirred much chatter, with speculation mounting over a possible reconciliation with King Charles. On September 8, the Duke of Sussex touched down in his home country and made a private visit to the grave of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Coincidentally, the King is also honoring the late Queen on her third death anniversary, albeit from a different location. Charles and Queen Camilla are said to be spending their time in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, the place where she breathed her last.
Charles and Camilla are reportedly spending the anniversary of Accession Day in Scotland, a day that marks Charles's official ascension to the throne following his mother's death. Balmoral Castle is also the retreat where the royal family spent their annual summer holidays last month. A day before the Accession anniversary, Charles and Camilla attended church services at Crathie Kirk, accompanied by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Prayers were offered to mark the Accession Day and in memory of Katherine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away on September 4. Two days later, the King and Queen Consort attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, an annual exhibition of sport and Scottish tradition.
As for their outing at the Braemar Gathering, Charles honored Scottish tradition by wearing a kilt, with Camilla donning an outfit with a green tartan. The royal couple also wore symbols of mourning for the Duchess of Kent. Charles wore a black tie to mourn the wife of his late mother's cousin, while Camilla wore a black armband. As for Harry, he visited St.George's Chapel in Windsor to pay his respects privately and lay a wreath at Queen Elizabeth's grave. He is expected to attend the WellChild Awards in London, honoring ill children. He will also travel to Nottingham to announce a major donation to children in need and spotlight local youth programs.
After news broke that Harry would visit London, speculation arose that he would reunite with his estranged father. A close friend of the Prince told The Times, "He’s not given up hope on bringing his family back to the UK. He wants to be able to show his children where he grew up...He really would like to come back to the UK much more." However, not everyone was as optimistic. Royal author Tom Bower warned that Harry meeting his father would be 'full of peril.' He told the Daily Express, "Whatever Charles is facing, he would much prefer to have a good relationship with his son...But he must bear in mind that he’s dealing with someone who could sabotage everything and embarrass him enormously."
Reports speculate that Charles is eager to mend fences with his son for a deeply personal reason. Former royal butler Grant Harrold told GB News, "I know what the King’s like. He likes everyone to be happy...So you can guarantee the King without question wants it resolved." While the King is reportedly eager to see Harry, a meeting has yet to take place.