A beaming Prince Harry stepped out of Clarence House on a crisp London evening, and for the first time in nearly two years, he had reason to smile about his relationship with his father.
The Duke of Sussex had just spent an hour having tea with King Charles, and when reporters pressed him about how his father was doing, Harry's response was telling: 'Yes, he's great, thank you.'
Those five simple words may have marked the beginning of the end of one of the most painful family rifts in modern royal history.
The meeting that changed everything
Prince Harry met with his father, King Charles III, for tea at Clarence House on Wednesday — their first meeting in 19 months since the King's cancer diagnosis was announced in February 2024.
The duke was seen being driven through the gates of Clarence House in a black Range Rover around 5.20 p.m., and he was seen leaving less than an hour later, as he ducked down in the car en route to an evening event for his Invictus Games.
What made this meeting particularly significant wasn't just the duration of their separation, but the dramatic shift in Harry's demeanour.
The duke appeared relaxed as he entered the event, responding to a reporter's question about his father: 'Yes, he's great, thank you,' — a far cry from his previous public statements about their relationship.
'There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has.'
The transformation was striking. Just months earlier, Harry revealed in an interview with the BBC that his father had not been speaking to him due to his legal battle with the UK Home Office. His security arrangements had become 'the sticking point' that kept father and son apart.
From estrangement to reconciliation
The royal rift began in earnest when Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped away from their senior royal roles and moved to California in 2020.
What followed were years of public criticism, tell-all interviews, and Harry's explosive memoir 'Spare,' which featured several incendiary accusations against his family, including that his brother Prince William had physically attacked him during an argument over Meghan.
The situation seemed irreparable, particularly after Harry and Meghan alleged in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that a member of the family had expressed concerns about the skin tone of their first child, Prince Archie, before he was born.
But something shifted after Harry lost his legal battle over UK security arrangements in May. Harry said he wanted a rapprochement: 'I would love reconciliation with my family.... There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.'
The Invictus connection
Harry's London visit wasn't just about family reconciliation — he was in the UK for his beloved Invictus Games Foundation, the international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick veterans that he founded in 2014.
Harry's penultimate day of events on Wednesday saw him visit Imperial College London's Centre for Blast Injury Studies, which he opened in 2013.
Later, he attended a reception for his Invictus Games Foundation. The prior meeting with his father meant that Harry arrived around 40 minutes late.
The Invictus Games and Australia
The Invictus Games have a special connection to Australia. Sydney hosted the games in 2018, and Australian veterans regularly compete across multiple sports including wheelchair rugby, swimming, and athletics.
The games were inspired by the US Warrior Games, with 'Invictus' meaning 'unconquered' in Latin — a fitting tribute to the fighting spirit of wounded service personnel.
The next games will be held in Birmingham in 2027.
Speaking at the Invictus event, Harry reflected on the foundation's mission: 'We live in a time when conflicts rage across the globe, when anger and resentment towards those who are different can feel overwhelming.
And the Invictus community stands as a direct challenge to that... Throughout each year, it is about showing the best of humanity, about proving that there is no wound, physical or invisible that cannot be met with strength, with dignity, and with hope.'
The health factor that changed priorities
The last time that Charles and Harry spent time together was in February 2024 when the duke dashed back to Britain for a 30-minute meeting following the King's shock cancer diagnosis.
The monarch's health battle appears to have added urgency to the reconciliation efforts, with royal author Ingrid Seward noting: 'Because Charles isn't seeing his grandchildren, that must be really sad for him, and if a meeting can be arranged without too much drama, he will see Harry.'
The King's treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer continues, and this reality seems to have softened positions on both sides. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner explained: 'King Charles feels it is his Christian duty to welcome Harry, Meghan Markle and their family back into the fold.'
Careful choreography behind the scenes
This wasn't a spontaneous reunion. In July, the new team handling Harry and Meghan's communications was seen on the balcony of a private members' club in London speaking with Tobyn Andreae, the king's press representative. The meeting showed a change of tone since it wouldn't have happened if both parties hadn't given their tacit consent.
Signs of genuine royal reconciliation
- First father-son meeting in 19 months
- Harry's positive public comment about his father's wellbeing
- Preparatory meetings between communication teams in July
- Harry's shifted tone from bitter to hopeful about family relations
- King's willingness to meet despite years of public criticism
- Timing coinciding with Harry's charitable work rather than media ventures
While it's too soon to say if there has been complete reconciliation, there have been signals in recent months of a possible rapprochement. Back in July, senior aides for both sides were seen meeting in the British capital—in what was understood at the time to be an initial re-opening of communication channels.
The brother who wasn't there
Notably absent from this reconciliation was Prince William. Harry's brother Prince William was in the Welsh capital of Cardiff visiting a new mental health hub on Wednesday.
There has, however, been no sign of an olive branch between the brothers. The last time the public saw the two brothers physically and closely together was in 2022, at the funeral for their beloved grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince William's representatives were noticeably absent from the so-called 'peace summit' and the future king's team was reportedly not notified of the secret meeting. Royal experts suggest William 'is still extremely angry with Harry and does not want his father softening his position by meeting with him.'
What this means for the future
The meeting represents a significant step forward, but expectations remain measured. Palace sources describe the encounter as a 'simple face-to-face conversation between a father and a son' rather than any type of 'grand gesture or set-piece meeting,' with priorities including 'privacy and dignity.'
Harry's previous statement seems prophetic now: 'There's no point in continuing to fight anymore,' he said, adding that he 'would love reconciliation with my family.' While he acknowledged that 'some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book,' his actions suggest he's committed to healing rather than harm.
For a family that has weathered centuries of scandals, wars, and personal tragedies, this quiet cup of tea between a father and son might just be the beginning of writing a different chapter in their story.
Have you experienced the healing power of family reconciliation in your own life? Sometimes it takes a health scare or major life event to put family feuds into perspective. Share your thoughts on whether this royal reunion might inspire others to bridge their own family divides.
Original Article
https://www.skynews.com.au/lifestyl...e/news-story/d032dec50b26a9709bc550e7bfc387a5
Tea with dad — Prince Harry meets King Charles for first time in 19 months—The Washington Post
Cited text: LONDON — Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry met with his father, King Charles III, for tea at Clarence House on Wednesday — their first mee...
Excerpt: Prince Harry met with his father, King Charles III, for tea at Clarence House on Wednesday — their first meeting in 19 months since the King's cancer diagnosis was announced in February 2024
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/10/prince-harry-king-charles-reunion/
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: The Duke of Sussex reunited with his father, King Charles III, for their first face-to-face meeting in 19 months on Wednesday, triggering speculation ...
Excerpt: Prince Harry met with his father, King Charles III, for tea at Clarence House on Wednesday — their first meeting in 19 months since the King's cancer diagnosis was announced in February 2024
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: The duke was seen being driven through the gates of Clarence House in a black Range Rover around 5.20 p.m.
Excerpt: The duke was seen being driven through the gates of Clarence House in a black Range Rover around 5.20 p.m.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
Prince Harry has tea with King Charles in first meeting for over a year
Cited text: He was seen leaving less than an hour later, as he ducked down in the car en route to an evening event for his Invictus Games, which supports injured ...
Excerpt: he was seen leaving less than an hour later, as he ducked down in the car en route to an evening event for his Invictus Games
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/09/11/...ing-charles-in-first-meeting-for-over-a-year/
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: The duke appeared relaxed as he entered the event, responding to a reporter’s question about his father: “Yes, he’s great, thank you,” according to Br...
Excerpt: The duke appeared relaxed as he entered the event, responding to a reporter's question about his father: 'Yes, he's great, thank you,'
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: In May, Harry shed some light on the current family dynamics when he revealed in an interview with the BBC that his father had not been speaking to hi...
Excerpt: Harry revealed in an interview with the BBC that his father had not been speaking to him due to his legal battle with the UK Home Office
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles III, Prince Harry meet in-person amid family tensions—ABC News
Cited text: Harry has had a distant relationship with his father and brother -- his only sibling -- since at least 2020, when Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duche...
Excerpt: Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped away from their senior royal roles and moved to California in 2020
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/...-meet-amid-family-tensions/story?id=125441562
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: Meanwhile, Harry’s controversial memoir featured several incendiary accusations against his family, including that his brother Prince William had phys...
Excerpt: featured several incendiary accusations against his family, including that his brother Prince William had physically attacked him during an argument over Meghan
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, alleged that a member of the family had expressed concerns ...
Excerpt: Harry and Meghan alleged in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that a member of the family had expressed concerns about the skin tone of their first child, Prince Archie, before he was born
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
Prince Harry, King Charles meet for first time in nearly 2 years — and they have tea | CBC News
Cited text: (Carlos Jasso/Reuters) But after losing a legal battle with the British government over his security in May, Harry said he wanted a rapprochement.
Excerpt: Harry said he wanted a rapprochement: 'I would love reconciliation with my family....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/prince-harry-charles-meet-1.7630332
Prince Harry, King Charles meet for first time in nearly 2 years — and they have tea | CBC News
Cited text: I would love reconciliation with my family.... There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious,' he told the BBC. 'I don't know ...
Excerpt: Harry said he wanted a rapprochement: 'I would love reconciliation with my family....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/prince-harry-charles-meet-1.7630332
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: Harry’s penultimate day of events on Wednesday saw him visit Imperial College London’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies, which he opened in 2013. Later...
Excerpt: Harry's penultimate day of events on Wednesday saw him visit Imperial College London's Centre for Blast Injury Studies, which he opened in 2013.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
Britain's Prince Harry speaks at Invictus Games event in London
Cited text: STORY: :: Prince Harry says the Invictus Games Foundation is looking to the future with an expanded mission ... “We live in a time when conflicts rage...
Excerpt: Speaking at the Invictus event, Harry reflected on the foundation's mission: 'We live in a time when conflicts rage across the globe, when anger and resentment towards those who are different can feel overwhelming.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/britains-prince-harry-speaks-invictus-094639910.html
Britain's Prince Harry speaks at Invictus Games event in London
Cited text: Throughout each year, it is about showing the best of humanity, about proving that there is no wound, physical or invisible that cannot be met with st...
Excerpt: Speaking at the Invictus event, Harry reflected on the foundation's mission: 'We live in a time when conflicts rage across the globe, when anger and resentment towards those who are different can feel overwhelming.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/britains-prince-harry-speaks-invictus-094639910.html
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: The last time that Charles and Harry spent time together was in February 2024 when the duke dashed back to Britain for a 30-minute meeting following t...
Excerpt: The last time that Charles and Harry spent time together was in February 2024 when the duke dashed back to Britain for a 30-minute meeting following the King's shock cancer diagnosis
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles May Have Emotional Reason to See Prince Harry—Newsweek
Cited text: 'Because Charles isn't seeing his grandchildren that must be really sad for him and if a meeting can be arranged without too much drama, he will see H...
Excerpt: royal author Ingrid Seward noting: 'Because Charles isn't seeing his grandchildren that must be really sad for him and if a meeting can be arranged without too much drama, he will see Harry.'
https://www.newsweek.com/prince-harry-meeting-king-charles-london-2123757
Prince Harry meets King Charles amid royal family reconciliation push | Fox News
Cited text: '[It is understood] that King Charles feels it is his Christian duty to welcome Harry, Meghan Markle and their family back into the fold.'
Excerpt: Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner explained: 'King Charles feels it is his Christian duty to welcome Harry, Meghan Markle and their family back into the fold.'
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-king-charles-reunite-london-first-time-over-year
Prince Harry has tea with King Charles in first meeting for over a year
Cited text: In July, the new team handling Harry and Meghan’s communications, headed by Los Angeles-based Meredith Maines, was seen on the balcony of a private me...
Excerpt: In July, the new team handling Harry and Meghan's communications was seen on the balcony of a private members' club in London speaking with Tobyn Andreae, the king's press representative.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/09/11/...ing-charles-in-first-meeting-for-over-a-year/
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: While it’s too soon to say if there has been complete reconciliation, there have been signals in recent months of a possible rapprochement. Back in Ju...
Excerpt: While it's too soon to say if there has been complete reconciliation, there have been signals in recent months of a possible rapprochement.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: Harry's brother Prince William was in the Welsh capital of Cardiff visiting a new mental health hub run by the Jac Lewis Foundation to mark World Suic...
Excerpt: Harry's brother Prince William was in the Welsh capital of Cardiff visiting a new mental health hub on Wednesday.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: There has, however, been no sign of an olive branch between the brothers.
Excerpt: There has, however, been no sign of an olive branch between the brothers.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
King Charles III, Prince Harry meet in-person amid family tensions—ABC News
Cited text: The last time the public saw the two brothers -- the only children of Charles and the late Princess Diana -- physically and closely together was in 20...
Excerpt: The last time the public saw the two brothers physically and closely together was in 2022, at the funeral for their beloved grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/...-meet-amid-family-tensions/story?id=125441562
Prince Harry meets King Charles amid royal family reconciliation push | Fox News
Cited text: Prince William’s reps were noticeably absent from the so-called 'peace summit' and the future king’s team was reportedly not notified of the secret me...
Excerpt: Prince William's representatives were noticeably absent from the so-called 'peace summit' and the future king's team was reportedly not notified of the secret meeting.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-king-charles-reunite-london-first-time-over-year
Prince Harry meets King Charles amid royal family reconciliation push | Fox News
Cited text: 'There have been many reports in the British press that William is still extremely angry with Harry and does not want his father softening his positio...
Excerpt: Prince William's representatives were noticeably absent from the so-called 'peace summit' and the future king's team was reportedly not notified of the secret meeting.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-king-charles-reunite-london-first-time-over-year
Prince Harry and King Charles Will Reportedly Meet In a Matter of Days, Though Prince William Likely Won’t Attend
Cited text: The encounter is expected to be a “simple face-to-face conversation between a father and a son” rather than any type of “grand gesture or set-piece me...
Excerpt: Palace sources describe the encounter as a 'simple face-to-face conversation between a father and a son' rather than any type of 'grand gesture or set-piece meeting,' with priorities including 'privacy and dignity.'
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment...-harry-king-charles-reportedly-114536100.html
King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart | CNN
Cited text: He shared his desire to rebuild bridges with the Windsor clan and acknowledged that “some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a boo...
Excerpt: Harry's previous statement seems prophetic now: 'There's no point in continuing to fight anymore,' he said, adding that he 'would love reconciliation with my family.'
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/uk/prince-harry-king-charles-intl
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