EXCLUSIVE: Relations between the Duke of Sussex and the King have begun to ease following an informal peace summit with Buckingham Palace officials as Harry is due to fly back to London
Prince Harry to return to UK on anniversary of Queen’s death for charity awards
Prince Harry is poised to see his father, King Charles, for the first time in 20 months when he returns to Britain in two weeks – although Prince William has rejected any reconciliation with his brother.
The thawing of relations between the Duke of Sussex and the monarch comes after an informal peace summit with Buckingham Palace officials. Harry is expected in London on September 8 – the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death – to attend the WellChild Awards, a charity event he has long supported.
The date marks the Duke’s first visit since his failed appeal against the downgrading of his security protection in the UK. At the same time, the King is in the UK and does not have a planned foreign visit until later in September, paving the way for father and son to meet in person for the first time since February 2024.
The two have not seen one another since January last year, a period in which His Majesty has been undergoing treatment for cancer. A US source told the Mirror: “It’s clear there is now a determination on both sides to make this happen. Nobody is pretending the wider family issues have been resolved, but this is about beginning with Charles and Harry.
“For the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine sense that reconciliation is within reach. Prince Harry’s team and the Palace have opened a line of communication, and there is every hope that father and son will see one another when the Duke returns to London in September.”
They continued: “After 20 months apart, and with the King continuing his treatment, the feeling is that the time is right to take that step. This is not about grand gestures or set-piece meetings – it’s about a simple face-to-face conversation between a father and his son. The priority is privacy and dignity, but also ensuring the door stays open for further dialogue. As for Harry and William, though, any chance of reconciliation between them has been rejected out of hand.”
Despite the possible meeting, it is understood Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, will maintain her self-imposed exile from Britain, opting to stay in California with the couple’s two children, Archie and Lilibet. Charles has not seen his grandchildren since June 2022, when the Sussexes returned for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Last month, Harry’s chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, met the King’s press secretary Tobyn Andreae for discussions at the Royal Overseas League in London. Liam Maguire, who handles the Sussexes’ UK press, also attended the meeting, which was seen as a major step towards opening dialogue. The discussions included the possibility of Harry receiving direct updates on his father’s health and coordination to avoid clashes between Sussex projects and royal engagements.
In May, the Duke spoke candidly of his anguish in an interview with the BBC, saying he was “devastated” after losing his legal challenge to retain police protection while in Britain. He told the broadcaster he “would love a reconciliation” with his family but complained the King “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.” He said he did not want to fight anymore and added: “I do not know how much longer my father has.”
Despite that public appeal, there has been little personal contact. The Duchess of Sussex and their children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, decision to stay in the States comes after the prince previously said he “can’t see a world” in which he could bring his children to Britain without proper security protection.
While the King has expressed a willingness to reconcile, relations between Harry and the Prince of Wales remain deeply strained. A separate source added: “William feels Harry has repeatedly chosen public exposure over private resolution and that the Royal Family can’t keep being dragged into the headlines every time there’s a new contract to promote. “
“The issue with Harry, as well as Meghan, is one of trust. Ever since moving to North America, they have eroded all confidence in their ability to keep things or their criticisms private. For there to be any chance of moving forward, that trust has to be rebuilt, and Team Sussex knows the onus is on them.”
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have levelled repeated criticism at the monarchy. Their March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they alleged racism within the institution and claimed Meghan was left suicidal, sparked international controversy.
Their Netflix docuseries in 2022 accused the palace of “unconscious bias” and leaking stories to the press, while Harry’s memoir Spare, published in early 2023, alleged that William physically attacked him during a row over Meghan and accused Queen Camilla of briefing against him to improve her image.
While Charles has been described as “deeply saddened” by the couple’s allegations, the King has consistently left the door open to reconciliation. By contrast, William is thought to have adopted a harder stance, seeing little prospect of healing the rift.
Spokespeople for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
