No reunion for Prince Harry and King Charles during Duke’s UK visit for security court battle (Picture credit: AP)
Prince Harry made a rare return to the UK this week for a legal showdown over his government-funded security, but his visit came and went without any meeting with his father, King Charles III, further hinting at the deepening rift within the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex arrived in London on Sunday for a Court of Appeal hearing related to his long-running legal fight against the 2020 decision to remove his state-funded police protection. Despite being in close proximity to his father, no meeting took place before the King and Queen Camilla departed for a state visit to Italy early Monday.
According to sources cited by Fox News Digital, a reunion was “never a realistic option.”
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield was also quoted by Fox News saying, “There is too much tension… the royal family simply cannot trust him today.” Another royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, told the outlet, “It’s sad, it’s public, and it presages trouble in the future, especially if Harry wins his appeal.”
Their last confirmed meeting was in February 2024 when Harry flew to London briefly after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis. At the time, Harry expressed hope that the health crisis might mend their strained relationship. “Any illness, any sickness, brings families together… and that makes me very happy,” he said in an interview with Good Morning America.
But according to The Sun, even though Charles was in London for treatment over the weekend, the pair did not reunite. The monarch left for Rome just hours after Harry landed.
A royal insider was quoted by People magazine that Charles had stopped responding to Harry’s calls and letters, and the King is reportedly “frustrated” by Harry’s belief that he can influence security decisions, something Buckingham Palace insists is beyond the monarch’s authority.
In court, Harry’s lawyer Shaheed Fatima argued that his “bespoke” security arrangements were “unjustified and inferior,” and that a government committee failed to properly assess threats to his safety. She cited two serious incidents, a call by al-Qaeda for Harry’s assassination and the 2023 paparazzi chase in New York involving him and Meghan Markle.
The Prince, 40, and his wife Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and now live in California. Since then, Harry has fought to retain security protection in the UK, arguing he cannot safely visit without it. He lost a previous attempt to personally pay for police protection, with a judge ruling that police officers cannot be used as “private bodyguards for the wealthy.”
Harry’s relationship with his family, particularly with Charles and Prince William, remains tense.
As per Fox News, the Prince’s efforts to maintain equal status with his brother, the heir to the throne, are believed to be a source of friction. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the outlet, “The King probably hasn’t got the inclination, and he probably hasn’t got the energy” for a difficult conversation with his son.
King Charles is currently in Italy on official duty and celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary with Queen Camilla during the trip. Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s legal battle continues, with a written verdict on his appeal expected in the coming weeks.
