Why King Charles Likely Won't Meet Harry During The US Trip: 'There Will Be No Detour'
People had hoped King Charles would reunite with Prince Harry after Donald Trump invited the royal family to America's 250th anniversary.
Despite their positive reunion in September, King Charles and Prince Harry still have a long road ahead in repairing their fractured relationship. The King is said to struggle with trusting the Prince after his barrage of damaging interviews. Regardless, many royal fans hoped Charles would reunite with his son and grandchildren in the US after Donald Trump invited the royal family to America's 250th anniversary celebrations. But royal expert Robert Jobson firmly shut this down, insisting Charles wouldn't risk a reunion overshadowing the true purpose of his visit.
In an article for HELLO!, Jobson stressed that Charles would be on a packed schedule during the visit, with very little time to focus on a reconciliation. He wrote, "There will be no detour. While some close to the Palace quietly suggest the Sussexes could travel east for a discreet meeting in Washington, their presence would dominate headlines, eclipsing the state visit, so for that reason, it remains improbable." According to him, all meetings at the White House, ceremonial obligations, and engagements will be included in a schedule 'designed for maximum impact.' He added, "The visit, which Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed, is expected to span no more than four days in April 2026, anchored in Washington."
Similarly, royal expert Jennie Bond also opined that it was highly unlikely that Charles would reunite with Harry in the US, owing to his busy schedule. She told The Mirror, "State visits are incredibly busy. The schedule is worked out months in advance and is tightly packed with carefully curated engagements designed to enhance bilateral relations." He added, "There is very little downtime, and I can't think that the King would fly across the whole country to visit Harry and his family in California." Her statements come as sources both in Washington and London revealed that plans for a state visit were already underway, with discussions including a late-April stop at the White House for a series of historic events.
However, despite the King's packed itinerary, Bond believes he might still consider carving out time to see his US-based grandchildren. She explained, "I'm sure Charles would love to meet his grandchildren again, and so I suppose it's conceivable that the Sussexes could take a flight to New York, or wherever the King and Queen are based, for a brief reunion." Still, she noted that such a meeting is a long shot, as Harry and Meghan Markle will likely be urged to keep a low profile during the visit, to avoid overshadowing the event.
Charles has met Archie only a few times and Lilibet just once, during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee. As for the upcoming trip, the visit is anticipated to be packed with engagements highlighting the 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, and Queen Camilla is expected to accompany Charles. While the visit would undoubtedly mark a historic moment for the monarchy, its final details remain dependent on the King's health, as he continues to battle cancer.
