By Philomina Brando
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, reunited with his father, King Charles III, on Wednesday for their first in-person meeting in 19 months, stirring speculation that the royal family’s long-running rift may be easing.
CNN reports that the King and his youngest son had a private tea at Clarence House in London. Harry arrived in a black Range Rover around 5:20 p.m. local time and left less than an hour later.
The meeting came during Harry’s solo visit to Britain for a series of charity engagements. Earlier in the day, the duke visited the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London, which he inaugurated in 2013. Later, he attended a reception for his Invictus Games Foundation, arriving late due to the meeting with his father.
King Charles, who is undergoing cance treatment, had returned from Balmoral earlier on Wednesday and carried out official duties, including hosting the premier of South Australia.
The last meeting between father and son was in February 2024 when Harry flew to London for a brief 30-minute visit following the King’s cancer diagnosis. He did not see his father during an April trip for his court case over UK security, as Charles was abroad.
Although reconciliation remains uncertain, recent months have shown signs of warming ties. In July, aides from both sides reportedly met in London to reopen communication channels. Harry has also publicly expressed his wish to rebuild bridges, acknowledging the strains caused by his memoir and earlier interviews.
Meanwhile, Prince William was in Wales on Wednesday, marking World Suicide Prevention Day by visiting a new mental health hub in Cardiff. Despite their close physical proximity during events this week, the estranged brothers have not met.
Harry appeared in good spirits at his charity reception, telling reporters his father was “great.” His foundation announced a $500,000 donation to projects supporting child amputees in Gaza and Ukraine.
The duke began his UK visit on Monday with a private tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor on the third anniversary of her death. He also attended the WellChild Awards and pledged over £1.1 million to youth initiatives in Nottingham.
Harry is scheduled to conclude his trip on Thursday with The Diana Award charity before returning to the United States.