Prince Harry met with his father, King Charles III, in London on Wednesday, marking what appears to be the first step toward mending the rift that has divided the royal family since Harry and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020.
A car carrying Harry, 40, was seen entering Clarence House, the king’s London residence, around 5:20 p.m. on a rainy afternoon. Charles and Queen Camilla had returned from Balmoral Castle in Scotland earlier in the week, with the king presiding over an investiture ceremony at Clarence House earlier that day, according to Buckingham Palace.
Neither Harry’s office nor the palace confirmed the meeting publicly, though a palace official, speaking anonymously, said father and son shared a private tea.
The encounter had been widely speculated upon since Harry arrived in Britain on Monday for a four-day visit.
Harry has not seen his father in 17 months, shortly after Charles, 76, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.
In a May interview with the BBC, Harry said, “I don’t know how much longer my dad has,” a remark that reportedly frustrated palace officials, who maintain the king is improving despite ongoing weekly treatment.
Tensions have also lingered over Harry’s legal battle with Britain’s Home Office after the withdrawal of automatic police protection for his family.
The prince recently lost an appeal in that case, which he had suggested Charles should have intervened in.
Still, with Harry’s busy week of charity and philanthropic engagements, time was set aside for a meeting with his father.
There was no indication, however, that Harry has met with his brother, Prince William, with whom relations remained strained.
