The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, met privately with his father, King Charles III, on Wednesday in what marked their first one-on-one conversation in almost two years.
The encounter, held at Clarence House, has reignited speculation that longstanding rifts within the royal family may be easing.
Harry was seen arriving at the King’s residence in a black Range Rover shortly after 5 p.m. local time and remained inside for about an hour before leaving.
Sources confirmed the father and son shared afternoon tea, their first substantive meeting since February 2024, when Harry visited the UK following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
The King had recently returned from Balmoral, where he spent much of the summer undergoing treatment, and had earlier resumed official duties, including a scheduled meeting with the premier of South Australia.
Harry’s London visit has been focused on charitable engagements. Earlier on Wednesday, he toured Imperial College’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies, which he originally inaugurated in 2013. He later joined a reception for the Invictus Games Foundation, though his arrival was delayed by about 40 minutes due to the meeting with his father. When asked by reporters about the King’s condition, Harry replied, “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
The meeting comes amid signs that the royal family may be taking cautious steps toward reconciliation. Aides on both sides have reportedly been working behind the scenes in recent months to restore communication channels.
However, tensions between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, remain unresolved. William, currently supporting his wife Catherine through her cancer treatment, has shown no public indication of reconnecting with Harry, despite recent events placing them in close proximity.
Harry’s return to the UK also carried personal resonance. On Monday, he made a private visit to Windsor to commemorate the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, laying flowers at her burial site. That same day, William and Kate attended a separate memorial service nearby, though the brothers did not cross paths.
In addition to family matters, Harry has used the trip to promote humanitarian initiatives. His foundation committed $500,000 to aid child amputees in Gaza and Ukraine, supporting efforts for prosthetics, medical evacuations, and rehabilitation. He also pledged a £1.1 million personal donation to assist youth in Nottingham impacted by violence.
The Duke is expected to conclude his UK visit on Thursday with an appearance at The Diana Award, a charity honoring the legacy of his late mother, before returning to California.
