The royal family drama never seems to quiet down, especially when it comes to King Charles III and his son, Prince Harry. A recent report suggests that the hope for a full healing of their rift is fading fast.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman made this claim in an excerpt from his new book about the 76-year-old monarch. The Daily Mail published this section on Saturday, August 23. Hardman believes that any real chance of the father and son making up has "moved further away."
Harry, now 40, has been estranged from his father since 2020. That’s when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, decided to step back from their senior royal duties. They packed up and moved across the pond to California. Harry had seemed okay with this distance, until news broke in 2024 that his dad was battling an undisclosed type of cancer.
Earlier this year, after losing his latest legal fight for enhanced security in England, Harry opened up to the BBC. "I’d love to reconcile with my family," he said then. "There’s no point in carrying on fighting. Life is precious. I don’t know how much time my father has left. He doesn’t talk to me because of this security issue, but it would be nice to reconcile." These words painted a picture of a son yearning for peace.
However, Hardman’s book paints a different side of the story. He reported that people close to the royal family were "frankly horrified" by what they saw as Harry’s "lightness of words" when talking about King Charles’ health. It seems Harry’s public statements might have done more harm than good in some circles.
Interestingly, Hardman’s book appears to have been completed before a key meeting in July. That month, Harry and Meghan’s Director of Communications, Meredith Maines, traveled to London. Us Weekly shared that Maines was there for routine meetings. She connected with the UK communications team, media, key people, and important figures tied to Harry’s charity work. This shows that despite the personal tensions, some professional channels remain open.
Whispers have been circulating about a possible meeting between Harry and King Charles in September. Harry is expected in London then for events connected to his role as a patron for WellChild. It’s a slim chance, but one many are watching closely.
The last time Harry saw his father in person was in February 2024. He flew straight to the UK right after the King’s cancer diagnosis became public. Harry spoke about that visit on Good Morning America that same month. "I love my family," he shared. "The fact that I was able to get on a plane, go see him and spend some time with him, I’m grateful for that. I got on a plane and went to see him as soon as I could." He even joked back then that he had "other" trips planned to England, adding, "I will go see my family as much as I can."
Now, with Hardman’s insights, those hopes for frequent visits and a full reconciliation seem more uncertain than ever.