King Charles has been reunited with his grandchildren for the first time since 2022, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children visited him at his Highgrove residence. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, last saw their grandfather in person during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Queen, who has a private home near the King’s Gloucestershire property, was also among the group.
The meeting came after days of speculation over whether the family reunion would take place, and is likely to be interpreted as a sign of a thawing relationship between the King and his son Harry. Harry’s rift with William remains ongoing and shows no sign of abating; the reunion took place during the same afternoon William was playing in a charity polo match at Windsor. The Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance to cheer on her husband as he took part in the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup 2026 at Guards Polo Club.
“King Charles met Archie and Lilibet at Highgrove while William played polo and Kate cheered.”
Harry had planned to bring his family to the UK while he undertook a week-long series of events promoting the Invictus Games he founded, but security issues prevented Meghan and the children from travelling with him on Monday. Those concerns were apparently mitigated to allow the Highgrove visit. The Mirror exclusively reported this week that the monarch instructed senior aides to engage in ongoing talks with the Sussexes to secure time in his busy diary.
Within hours of Harry’s solo Invictus Games event drawing to a close in Birmingham, Kate stepped out to support William. King Charles is reportedly keen to arrange a meeting with Harry and Meghan following a turbulent few days for the Duke of Sussex. Meghan chose not to accompany her husband to London this week, amid growing security concerns. The Sussexes’ armed police protection was withdrawn when they stepped back as senior working royals in 2020, and Harry had been awaiting the outcome of a security reassessment. Just days before the visit, the Sussexes were notified that no decision had been reached, while reports indicated a request for police protection during the trip had been refused.
A royal source told the Mirror: “While nothing has been ruled out, conversations remain ongoing.” Nevertheless, having initially turned down an invitation to remain at a royal residence, Harry subsequently requested accommodation at Buckingham Palace for one evening. Reports indicate the King has been counselled against meeting his son to prevent any potential compromise to his constitutional position while awaiting the outcome of Harry’s High Court case – which the duke lost against Associated Newspapers on Tuesday. One source revealed that Harry had repeatedly altered his plans, leaving palace officials with little option but to declare “forget it”. Sources have now claimed Meghan is unhappy with how the palace has handled her husband throughout his UK visit and has no desire to meet with them, potentially forfeiting her previously close bond with the King.
