Prince Harry and King Charles’ Bond May Be Stronger Than Thought
Prince Harry and King Charles should meet up during the duke’s upcoming visit to Britain and are “further past the conflict than we think they are,” a royal commentator told Newsweek.
On May 8, the Duke of Sussex is planning to attend a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, in London, marking the 10-year anniversary of the Invictus Games, his tournament for injured veterans.
U.K. city Birmingham has bid to host the 2027 games and has been shortlisted alongside Washington D.C.
The visit may also give Charles and Harry time to see each other after a tense few years for their relationship.
U.K.-based royal commentator Afua Hagan told Newsweek: “They definitely should. I think it would be nice for them to spend some time together post the king’s cancer diagnosis.
“I always say health is a great leveler, it’s really good at bringing people together. If both parties can make time, it would be great for them to have that time together.”
Harry dropped everything to fly to Britain after the king announced he had been diagnosed with cancer but their meeting was short, squeezed in right before Charles flew up to Sandringham, in Norfolk, for a restful period out of the city.
“When Harry was here just after the king’s diagnosis, it was quite a quick meeting so hopefully this time around, the king will have more time and they can spend some time together,” Hagan said. “It will be good for them.
“I think they’re probably further past the conflict than we think they are. There’s obviously still issues there and there’s probably still hurt on both sides but like I said health is a great leveler.
“When things like this happen people are quite good at putting things behind them—’life is too short,’ looking to the future and thinking ‘where is the way forward from here.’
“I think the king’s cancer diagnosis is giving them both an opportunity to draw a line under things that have happened in the past.
“I don’t necessarily think there’s been a big reckoning and one person’s said ‘I’m wrong, no I’m wrong.’ I think this has just given them a good excuse to just move on.”
Robert Jobson, author of royal biography Our King, agreed that Charles and Harry should meet when asked by Newsweek: “Of course. But that’s a matter for the King and trust.”
He was, however, a little more skeptical about whether trust has been restored between father and son, saying “I doubt it.”
Meghan Markle is not expected to join Harry in Britain. Later in May, the pair will visit Nigeria to attend events and activities associated with the Invictus Games. Nigeria took part in the Games for the first time in 2023.
The Duchess of Sussex discovered in 2022 that she has Nigerian ancestry.
Jack Royston is Newsweek’s chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.