For the first time in more than four years, King Charles met his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in person, when he and Queen Camilla hosted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire on 10 July 2026. The meeting, described by Buckingham Palace as a “private family occasion”, marks a significant step in relations that have been strained since Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to the United States.
The basics are straightforward: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie (seven) and Lilibet (five), gathered at the King’s private country home in Gloucestershire. It was Harry and Meghan’s first joint visit to the UK since they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the first time the King had seen his youngest grandchildren since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. No pictures or further details were released, and the Palace said the meeting was a private family affair.
“Why King Charles meeting Prince Harry's children after four years matters, with key facts and context on the royal rift.”
The background to this reunion is a long and public rift. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, citing intense media scrutiny and lack of support from the institution. In subsequent years, Harry gave a series of television interviews and published his memoir “Spare” in 2023, in which he criticised his father, his stepmother Camilla, his brother Prince William, and sister-in-law Catherine. Relations became so strained that Harry and Meghan were stripped of their taxpayer-funded police protection when in the UK, a decision Harry unsuccessfully challenged in court. He now relies on private security, which he says is insufficient. On the day of the Highgrove meeting, Harry had just lost a £50 million privacy case against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail. In their memoir and interviews, Harry expressed a desire to reconcile, notably saying he wanted his children to know their grandfather because he “did not know how much longer my father has” – a reference to the King’s ongoing cancer treatment.
The afternoon of the meeting also saw Prince William playing in a charity polo match in Windsor, with no plans for the brothers to meet. The King’s day included a visit to Oxfordshire before returning to Highgrove.
For UK readers, this meeting matters because the royal family is a central national institution, often seen as a symbol of continuity and unity. The public has followed the drama of the Sussexes’ departure closely, with strong opinions on both sides. The reunion suggests a possible thaw in relations, which could affect how the monarchy is perceived and operate in the future. Moreover, the security dispute continues: Harry has said he cannot guarantee his family’s safety in the UK without state protection, which limits visits. The meeting also highlights the King’s desire to maintain family bonds despite personal and institutional strains, which resonates with many families navigating similar estrangements.
Q: Why had Prince Harry’s children not seen the King since 2022? The main reasons are the family’s move to the US, the breakdown in relations after Harry and Meghan stepped down and gave critical interviews, and a dispute over security arrangements. Harry lost a court case to have taxpayer-funded police protection reinstated, and he says he cannot bring his family without it.
Q: What was the legal dispute between Prince Harry and the Daily Mail? Harry brought a claim against Associated Newspapers for unlawful information gathering, alleging phone hacking and other privacy breaches. In July 2026, a High Court judge dismissed the claim, which Harry said his father had described as “a suicide mission”. The case had been a major point of contention.
Q: Will Prince Harry and Prince William reconcile? As of the meeting, their relationship remains broken. On the day of the Highgrove reunion, William was at a charity polo match, and there are no plans for the brothers to meet while Harry and Meghan are in the UK. The focus of the meeting was solely the King and his grandchildren.
What happens next is uncertain. The meeting at Highgrove is a positive step, but no details have been given about future visits or any broader reconciliation. Harry is due to continue his work with the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in 2027. Meanwhile, the King’s cancer treatment continues, and the family dynamics will depend on continued willingness to meet privately. The security issue remains unresolved, and until that is addressed, any future family visits may be limited or complicated.
