Prince Harry Wrote a 'Handwritten Letter' That Got Charles to Agree to the Reunion, Says Source
Prince Harry touching down in London for the WellChild Awards gave way to a rare reunion with his father, King Charles. Although it was expected to be a little more than a courtesy meet, the sit-down reportedly turned out to be one of the most 'emotional' father-son moments in recent royal history, with hugs and tears, according to an insider. The source, however, revealed that the reconciliation almost didn’t happen. They told Us Weekly that the conversation was not the result of a carefully choreographed meeting, but of Harry himself extending the much-awaited olive branch.
"The meeting was sparked by a handwritten letter from Harry earlier this year to Charles expressing his desire to reconnect," the insider revealed. "They were not sure it was going to happen until just in the last week." The source described the encounter as 'super positive,' 'very relaxed,' and, above all, 'very emotional.'
For a father and son whose relationship has been marked by distance and, at times, public tension, the atmosphere of this 50-minute meeting was noticeably different. “They were catching up personally about the children and what has been going on with Charles and his health... There were hugs and tears at the meeting,” the insider added.
Harry himself has since hinted at a shift in priorities. Speaking to The Guardian, he said, “The focus really has to be on my Dad” going forward. He also expressed hope that his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will be able to spend time in Britain. “This week has definitely brought that closer,” he said, suggesting that the reunion may have opened a door that had long seemed shut. This comes after he had confessed in his BBC interview, "I would love a reconciliation with my family... There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious."
For Harry, the UK has never stopped being home, even during the turbulence of the past few years. “I have always loved the UK and I always will love the UK,” he stressed after his recent visit. “It’s been good to reconnect with the causes I am passionate about. I have been able to spend some time with people whom I have known for so long. It is hard to do it from far away.”
And with Charles's relationship with Prince William turning frosty, Harry might prove to be a solace. According to royal author Tina Brown, the King’s most pressing frustration is not with his younger son, but with his heir. Writing in her Fresh Hell Substack this week, Brown revealed, “The King is, I am told, currently less irritated with the prodigal Harry than he is with his elder son and heir.”
She explained that William’s devotion to his family has created its own source of tension. “Somehow, William’s parenting dedication always seems couched as a tacit criticism of the King’s own paternal deficiencies,” Brown observed. For years, Harry’s rift with the royals and his father has made headlines and has been known to weigh heavily on Charles. Now, the King seems closer to Harry, while the rift seems to deepen with William.