LONDON (AP) 鈥 Prince Harry will make a flying visit to his U.K.-based charities this week, leading to a flurry of speculation about whether he will meet with his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months.
Amid signs of a thaw in the between Harry and the rest of the royal family, British media suggest that the prince鈥檚 trip to London on Monday’s third anniversary of the provides an opening for a long-overdue rapprochement between Charles, 76, and his estranged son.
Harry has had little contact with his father and elder brother, , since he and his wife, the former gave up royal duties and moved to California in 2020. The relationship became even frostier after the couple bared their grievances with Buckingham Palace in a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix series and , 鈥淪pare.鈥
A frosty relationship
The last time Harry and Charles met was in February 2024, when the prince flew to London after receiving news that his father had been diagnosed with cancer. Harry spent about 45 minutes with Charles before the king flew to his Sandringham country estate to recuperate from his treatment.
Harry was , when the Court of Appeal rejected his bid to restore a police protection detail that was canceled after he stopped being a working royal. Charles was on a state visit to Italy at the time, so a meeting was impossible.
That case was itself an impediment to improved relations because it involved Harry criticizing the king鈥檚 government in the courts. But once it was over, change became possible.
Immediately after the case ended, Harry said he would 鈥渓ove reconciliation with my family.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 no point in continuing to fight anymore,鈥 he told the BBC on the day the court case was resolved. 鈥淟ife is precious. I don鈥檛 know how much longer my father has.鈥
Despite that olive branch, Harry struck a combative tone that might torpedo hopes of repairing the family breach. The prince repeatedly said that the decision to withdraw his security was made at the direction of the royal household in an effort to control him and his wife while putting their safety at risk.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 struggling to forgive, and what I will probably always struggle to forgive, is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm鈥檚 way,鈥 Harry said.
A change of tone
But with the lawsuit out of the way, the mood music coming from Charles and Harry鈥檚 supporters seemed to change.
In July, the new team handling Harry and Meghan鈥檚 communications, headed by Los Angeles-based Meredith Maines, was seen on the balcony of a private members’ club in London speaking with Tobyn Andreae, the king鈥檚 press representative. The Mail on Sunday was on hand to snap a photo of what the paper called: 鈥淭he secret Harry peace summit.鈥
Regardless of who tipped off the paper, it showed a change of tone since the meeting wouldn鈥檛 have happened if the so-called principals hadn鈥檛 given their tacit consent.
Celebrating the bravery of ill children
And now comes Harry鈥檚 appearance at the WellChild Awards on Monday night in London.
The event, which celebrates the bravery of seriously ill children and those who care for them, is sponsored by a charity Harry has long supported. It is a reminder that not so long ago, Harry was one of the star attractions of the royal family鈥檚 effort to reach out to younger, more diverse Britons.
鈥淔or 20 years these Awards have highlighted the courage of young people living with complex health needs and shone a light on the devoted caregivers 鈥 family and professionals 鈥 who support them every step of the way,鈥欌 the prince said in a statement put out by the charity. 鈥淭heir stories remind us of the power of compassion, connection and community.鈥
But it will be hard to undo the damage caused by Harry and Meghan鈥檚 allegations of insensitivity, conflict and racism within the royal household.
Harry’s memoir overshadows reconciliation
Harry鈥檚 explosive memoir, 鈥淪pare,鈥 shattered the veneer of unity the royals present to the public, depicting them as scheming rivals who use a cozy relationship with the media to jockey for public favor.
It also revealed the details of private conversations, including one between the king and his sons, which was held in a graveyard in hopes of hiding it from the press.
鈥淧lease, boys,鈥欌 Harry quotes Charles as saying. 鈥淒on鈥檛 make my final years a misery.鈥欌
But Charles may have an incentive to let bygones be bygones.
Now approaching his 77th birthday and continuing to undergo cancer treatment, the king may want to get more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, who was born after her parents moved to the wealthy Southern California enclave of Montecito.
Harry put the responsibility for any rapprochement on his family.
In his interview with the BBC, Harry said he believes that you can鈥檛 have reconciliation without truth, and his lawsuit over police protection revealed the truth about his battle with the palace.
鈥淚t would be nice to have that reconciliation part now,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f they don鈥檛 want that, that鈥檚 entirely up to them.鈥
