Skip to main content

There have been rumblings for several months about a possible reconciliation between Prince Harry and King Charles. This chatter really picked up in February when it was announced that the monarch had cancer and Harry flew to London to see him. It’s believed that was the first time the duke had seen his father in person since the king’s coronation in May 2023.

Many royal watchers thought after that day a reconciliation was certainly in the cards, that is until the details of their meeting were leaked.

Now, sources say that Harry is open to a reconciliation with the king but he wants his dad to meet one of his demands first.

King Charles and Prince Harry attend the Our Planet global premiere the at the Natural History Museum
King Charles and Prince Harry attend the Our Planet global premiere the at the Natural History Museum | John Phillips/Getty Images

Reports that their relationship was not repaired after Prince Harry visited the king

For those who thought a face-to-face meeting after the terrible news about King Charles’ health would thaw his frosty relationship with Harry, they were wrong. The meeting, which the prince flew more than 5,000 miles for, reportedly only lasted minutes not hours. Queen Camilla (formerly Camilla Parker Bowles) was there as well and was pretty disgusted about the way Harry showed up.

A courtier confirmed that the prince did not ask for Palace approval before he flew in.

RadarOnline reported that the courtier said: “Her Majesty was furious Harry flew in from his ritzy California home without getting palace approval — and came with an attitude.”

The timing of the duke’s visit came just days before he was due to make a couple of appearances and according to the courtier the queen could not take Harry “using her husband’s cancer as a ‘loving son’ PR” saying Camilla has taken it all on the chin, but using her husband’s cancer as a PR stunt was the last straw.

King Charles and Prince Harry standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018
King Charles and Prince Harry standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018 | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Harry is open to a reconciliation if the king does this

Sources have told the Daily Beast the main reason for the father and son still not speaking is because the duke is being denied the automatic police security protection in the U.K. he received when he was a working royal.

That is a real sticking point for the prince, who is adamant that there is a “very real threat” against him and his family. Therefore, he believes it should be reinstated and even though the courts have ruled otherwise, Harry is convinced that “if the king wanted, he could do this for his son.”

However, the Palace has refuted that claim and said the monarch can’t just butt in and try to use his influence over the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

King Charles III and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II
King Charles III and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II | Karwai Tang/WireImage

The publication noted: “Buckingham Palace officials said that it would be ‘wholly inappropriate’ for the king to pull rank and attempt to influence the government committee, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, which makes decisions about royals’ personal protection. They added that these decisions were now a matter for the courts, as Harry was litigating the matter.”

No word yet on when the Duke of Sussex will appeal the matter, but we likely won’t see a reconciliation between Prince Harry and King Charles before then.