Prince Harry and his father, King Charles, recently shared a deeply emotional reunion. This marked their first face-to-face meeting in almost two years, following a long period of distance.
A close source told Us Weekly that the meeting came about because Harry sent his father a handwritten letter earlier this year. In it, he expressed a strong wish to reconnect. They weren’t sure the meeting would even happen until the week before. However, the insider described the eventual talk as “very positive and very relaxed.”
Harry had traveled across the Atlantic to attend the annual WellChild awards in London on Monday, September 8. Before meeting his dad, the Duke of Sussex also visited the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London. Later that day, around 5:20 p.m., he arrived at Clarence House to see King Charles.
According to Sky News, father and son spoke for about 54 minutes. Harry then left for an Invictus Games event around 6:14 p.m. local time. The source shared that their conversation covered personal topics, including Harry’s children and King Charles’s health. There were hugs and even some tears during their heartfelt exchange.
Prince Harry has two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with his wife, Meghan Markle. The couple moved to Montecito, California, in 2020. They stepped back from their roles as active members of the royal family around that time.
King Charles announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. This health news prompted Harry to publicly share his desire to mend the strained relationship with his father.
King Charles and his son, Prince Harry Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Back in May 2025, Harry shared his feelings with the BBC. He said he would “love to reconcile with my family.” He added, “Life is precious. I don’t know how much time my father has left.” This interview came after he lost an appeal to have government-paid security for his family when visiting the United Kingdom. Harry and Markle no longer had that security after stepping down as senior royals.
The atmosphere during the Wednesday meeting was reportedly “genuine and positive.” The source even noted “laughter,” despite the two not having seen each other in person for nearly two years. “They shared a long hug when they first saw each other,” the insider told Us. “Harry broke down in tears, and it was very emotional for both. They truly missed each other.”
The meeting was brief, but King Charles agreed because it fit his schedule and offered a chance to connect while Harry was in London. They met at Clarence House, the King’s residence, to create a private, less formal setting than Buckingham Palace. They wanted a comfortable space to truly reconnect without any added pressure.
According to the same source, King Charles felt “it was the right time” to address their distance. He believed their estrangement “needed to be dealt with.” The source added, “They needed to reach some kind of resolution, and both feel the same way.”
While Harry’s relationship with his father seems to be on the mend, his bond with his estranged brother, Prince William, remains complicated. Royal expert Kristen Meinzer told Us in August, “Harry’s relationship with his brother is very different from the one he has with his father.” She suggested, “Perhaps, if Charles gets closer to Harry, William will feel obligated to follow his example.”