Prince William Is Reportedly Unhappy About King Charles Meeting Prince Harry: ‘A Terrible Idea’
When Prince Harry returns to the UK this September, the spotlight won’t just be on his charity work, a cause he has long championed as a patron. It will be on whether father and son finally find time for a long-awaited father-son reunion. For King Charles, the door seems ajar. For Prince William, however, it may be one that’s better left closed. Harry, who has been a patron of the WellChild Awards for years, will return to London on September 8 for the annual ceremony.
The date holds added weight, it is also the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. The overlap has only intensified speculation that the King and the Duke of Sussex could carve out time to meet. If it happens, it would mark their first face-to-face since February. For William, however, the timing and the optics of such a reunion seem troubling. According to The Daily Beast, a close friend of the Prince of Wales has privately expressed his deep misgivings. “Ultimately, William is a loyal soldier. He respects his father’s rank, and he respects his father’s right to make his own decisions, and he won’t make a fuss if it happens,” the friend said. “But he thinks a Harry meeting is a terrible, terrible idea.”
The choice of words paints a rough picture of how stark the divide remains between the brothers. William, now 43, has reportedly not spoken to Harry for some time. While King Charles may feel a sense of duty, or perhaps even longing, to see his youngest son, the heir to the throne appears determined to keep his distance. For the King, the chance to reconnect with his youngest son seems possible, at least in theory.
What complicated matters further, as per Cambridgeshire Live, is the ongoing tension between Harry and his father. In May, Harry told the BBC that the King “won’t speak” to him, a comment that highlighted just how fragile their relationship has become. At the time, Harry was embroiled in a legal battle with the Home Office over the downgrading of his taxpayer-funded security, a case he eventually lost. The court defeat reinforced the sense that Harry’s ties to Britain, and to his family, remain fraught.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond recently told The Mirror, “We have all become quite used to Harry coming and going without seeing his family. His visits are generally extremely brief. If this standard were to be followed, the father and son would naturally have a short time window to meet.” In other words, the chance of a meaningful conversation may be slim.
Despite the hurdles, there still appears to be some appetite for reconciliation, even if many royal watchers believe the chances have only diminished with time. Bond has long maintained that the responsibility rests with the monarch to take the initiative. “I have always thought it is the parent’s role to be the bigger person in any family row,” she explained. “You just have to open your arms and say to your child — even if they’re a grown-up — ‘Come here, you silly so-and-so, and give me a hug.’”