Britain’s Prince Harry on Wednesday caught up with his father, Britain’s King Charles III, in London. This was their first meeting in almost a year. This emotional reunion after such a long time apart is being celebrated around the world. Their final outing side by side publicly was the King’s coronation in May of 2024. At this meeting, Prince Harry was in the UK for other engagements. Despite the leftover animosity, both parties were committed to solidifying their family connections.
Prince Harry was also recently in the UK, including attending the Well Child Awards, where he spoke with young people and wounded veterans. It was an important trip for him given the milestone. The first sight of his father, the King, since February 2024 when he’d travelled to London to stand by his father’s side after he’d received a cancer diagnosis. One key royal that was missing from this group reunion was Prince William. He hasn’t visited his bro Harry IRL since the coronation. It was the first time they had been seen together in public since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. Both brothers were involved in the sad march behind her coffin.
King Charles III and Prince Harry’s relationship has been strained over the years, particularly highlighted in Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare,” where he described Prince William as his “beloved brother and arch nemesis.” The memoir recounted the many tensions that sprang up between the two brothers, from yelling matches to wrestling competitions, revealing the undeniable friction and pain that lingered in this unusual relationship. Though they have much to bond over due to their history, Prince Harry and Prince William kept a noticeable separation on this trip.
Given the current climate between the royal family members, it’s hard not to wonder what the future holds for their engagement with one another. King Charles III and Prince Harry were able to meet. It remains unclear when, if ever, Harry will get to reunite with his brother again. The lack of public engagement in these milestone family events – the coronation for example – only highlights the divide that is still very much present.
