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Relations between Prince Harry and the rest of the British royal family have been strained for years – until now.
London. What was planned as a big family return turned into chaos: Prince Harry (41) wanted to travel to the UK in July with his wife Meghan Markle (44) and their two children, Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5) – among other things, for the year-long countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
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But then there was a setback: Harry announced on July 4 that he would be traveling without his family after it emerged they would not be provided with police protection during the visit. Megan and the children canceled the trip without further ado. To make matters worse, a dispute over possible accommodation at the royal residence has also caused confusion, with Harry’s team and Buckingham Palace publicly providing conflicting statements. Despite the chaos, a meeting took place on July 10: King Charles (77) and Harry met privately at Highgrove House, with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet also there.
Prince Harry and King Charles. (Archive photo) © IMAGO
The meeting at Highgrove House was significant in many ways: it was the first time King Charles had seen his grandchildren living in California since 2022. It was also Meghan’s first visit to the UK in four years – and her first meeting with her father-in-law in such a long time. Queen Camilla (79) also attended the private meeting. Opposite the magazine People Those around him simply said: “Relationships have become better.”
Royal author Catherine Mayer also classified the event: “At its core it is just a family, and this family has been through extraordinary turmoil. Whatever you think of the monarchy: this is the moment most of us wanted to see.” Royal writer Russell Myers, however, had clear words for the tumultuous history of the visit: “What was billed as a big homecoming – not just for Harry, but potentially for Meghan as well – turned into a nightmare.”
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Tensions have been running high between Harry and his father for years. Since Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties and moved to California in 2020, family conflicts have become increasingly public, thanks to an interview with Oprah Winfrey, 72, a Netflix documentary and Harry’s memoir, The Spare. A central point of contention to this day is police protection of Harry’s family during visits to the UK, which the couple lost when they left. Since then, Harry has fought legally and publicly to have it reinstated, but so far to no avail. Opposite BBC News In May 2025, he said: “I would like reconciliation with my family. There is no point in continuing the fight.”
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And further: “Life is precious. I don’t know how much time my father has left.” In September 2025, father and son had already met for a short meeting at Clarence House. Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary, said it was a “huge step in the right direction.”