Prince Harry Opens Up About Family Tensions and Reconnecting With King Charles

Prince Harry and King Charles III have taken a tentative step toward reconciliation.

The father and son reunited for the first time in 19 months on Sept. 10 at Clarence House, the King’s London residence. The pair enjoyed a private tea before Harry continued on to an event for his Invictus Games Foundation. Speaking briefly to Sky News while there, Harry said of his father, whose cancer diagnosis was announced in February 2024, “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”

The reunion comes on the heels of months of tentative signals that communication may be reopening. Two months ago, Harry’s chief communications officer was spotted meeting with the King’s communication secretary. Three months ago, Harry expressed hope for restoring his connection to his family, though the issue of his and Meghan Markle’s retracted security protections remains unresolved.

“There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family,” Harry told the BBC in May. “This current situation that has been ongoing for five years with regard to human life and safety is the sticking point. It is the only thing that’s left.”

When asked about resolving that final, divisive issue, Harry said much of the power lies with his father. “There is a lot of control and ability in my father’s hands,” he explained. “Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him, not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary.”

Until their safety concerns are addressed, Harry admitted he “can’t see a world” in which he feels comfortable bringing his family back to the U.K., despite his desire to reconnect with his homeland. “The things that they’re going to miss is, well, everything,” he noted of his children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. “I love my country…I miss the U.K. I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do. I think that it’s quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”

The last time father and son spent time together was in February 2024, when Harry returned briefly following Charles’ cancer diagnosis. Later in April, Harry was unable to see his father during a court battle over UK security arrangements, as Charles was on a state visit to Italy.

While a complete reconciliation may still be distant, recent months have shown glimmers of rapprochement. In July, senior aides from both sides were seen meeting in London, understood to be an initial re-opening of communication channels.

Harry has been candid about past tensions. In a 2021 interview, he and Meghan alleged that a family member expressed concerns about Prince Archie’s skin tone before he was born. His memoir further detailed accusations against the family, including an alleged physical altercation with Prince William.

Reflecting on current dynamics, Harry told the BBC in May, “Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book… they will never forgive me for lots of things. But I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”