King Charles Is Likely Avoiding a Potential U.S. Visit Because of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
King Charles III traveling across the pond for a U.S. visit? A podcast host is “shooting down” the idea for 2025. Why? Because it’s where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live. Given their strained relationship, it’d become a major talking point.
Visiting the U.S. would be awkward for King Charles because of Harry and Meghan
With King Charles set to resume regular royal duties in 2025 as his cancer recovery continues, the Daily Mirror’s royal editor, Russell Myers, told the “Pod Save The King” podcast he thinks visiting the U.S. may be on the 76-year-old’s schedule (via Express).
Ann Gripper, the podcast’s host, quickly dismissed the idea. “I am going to shoot down your theory of them going to America, because, who else is in America? Meghan and Harry.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in Montecito, California, since relocating stateside in 2020. Simply by being on U.S. soil, even if it’s the East Coast when the couple lives on the West Coast, Gripper argued there’d likely be lots of talk about a potential royal get-together.
“Then it becomes an international, diplomatic….Are they going to come to New York?” Gripper said. “‘We’ve come half the way across the world and you’ve just come to the other side of the country. And should we just meet up? Can we see the grandkids?’”
“If it’s not actually a thing, it will be a thing we’re all talking about,” she added.
King Charles hasn’t seen Harry since February 2024, Meghan since 2022
The Sussexes and the rest of the British royal family—apart from Princess Eugenie—keep their distance from each other. The last time Harry and his father met in person was in early February 2024 shortly after Buckingham Palace announced the king’s cancer diagnosis. (His treatment is ongoing.) Harry flew to London, England, where he reportedly spent less than an hour at Clarence House with King Charles.
As for Meghan, she hasn’t rubbed shoulders with members of the British royal family for some time. She last saw the likes of King Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022. Since then she hasn’t returned to the U.K. for any visits, big or small.
The king is hesitant to talk to Prince Harry
According to a Daily Beast report, King Charles is “reluctant to even speak to” his youngest son “—let alone build meaningful bridges—until Harry drops his court case against the British government, in which Harry is seeking to have full time, automatic, armed security restored to him and his family when they are on British soil.”
Why? Because, as Robert Hardman explained in the updated edition of Charles III: New King, New Court, King Charles is concerned Harry might claim he said something in private that would lead to the case collapsing in court.
Harry legal battle for security isn’t over. He has plans to appeal after losing in court in February 2024. Since then he’s cited security concerns as the reason why Meghan doesn’t join him on U.K. visits. Meanwhile, Meghan reportedly wants Harry to put the legal battles behind him.
