Private Clarence House meeting seen as step towards reconciliation after long family rift
Prince Harry has met with his father, King Charles, for the first time in more than a year, in what many royal watchers view as an important step toward repairing their strained relationship.
The Duke of Sussex was seen arriving at Clarence House on Wednesday afternoon, where Buckingham Palace later confirmed the pair shared a private tea lasting around 50 minutes.
Reporters waiting outside asked Harry about the King’s health as he left. “Yes, he’s great,” Harry replied, a short but telling remark that suggested warmth after months of distance.
It was the first face-to-face meeting between father and son since February 2024, shortly after the King’s cancer diagnosis. At that time, Harry flew briefly to London but returned swiftly to the United States. Since then, he has visited Britain for legal proceedings and charitable work, but no further meetings with his father had taken place until now.
King Charles travelled to London from Balmoral earlier on Wednesday, while Harry has been in the country since Monday, undertaking a series of charity events in London and Nottingham. His engagements included announcing a £1.1 million personal donation to BBC Children in Need, where he spoke about the importance of grassroots work to support young people.
The meeting comes against a backdrop of long-running tensions between Harry and the wider Royal Family. Since stepping back as a working royal in 2020 and moving to California with his wife Meghan, Harry has repeatedly spoken publicly about rifts, particularly with his brother Prince William.
In May, Harry told the BBC he longed for “reconciliation” with his family, adding: “There’s no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious.” He has previously expressed frustration at what he described as difficulty communicating with his father during moments of health concern.
Wednesday’s tea will be interpreted as a symbolic gesture of rebuilding trust. While Buckingham Palace refused to comment further, sources described the conversation as private and personal. Royal observers note that even a short meeting is significant given recent speculation about whether the two would come together during Harry’s visit.
The so-called “peace summit” rumours intensified over the summer after Harry’s representatives were spotted meeting with palace officials in London. Newspapers suggested talks were underway to thaw the icy relationship, though no details were ever confirmed.
Despite the rapprochement with his father, there has been no sign of contact with Prince William during this trip. On Monday, Harry laid a wreath at the grave of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the third anniversary of her death. Less than 10 miles away, William and Catherine attended a Women’s Institute meeting in her memory, underlining the separate paths the brothers continue to follow.
Harry now lives in California with Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, who did not accompany him on this UK visit. He and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties more than four years ago, citing a desire for independence and greater control over their lives.
For the moment, this father–son reunion offers a rare glimmer of reconciliation within a fractured royal household. Whether it develops into a fuller restoration of ties remains uncertain, but the brief meeting at Clarence House has been taken as a hopeful sign.
As one royal analyst put it: “Fifty minutes over tea may not solve years of hurt, but it can start to mend them.”