Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with King Charles and Queen Camilla during their recent UK visit. It was the first time the monarch had seen his grandkids in four years, so it was a momentous occasion. The meeting was private, and no pictures or details were released.
What we know is that they met at Highgrove House on Friday, July 10. And that the meeting was a culmination of something Harry had wanted to see happen for a while, reuniting his kids with his father.
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“One of the strangenesses of the monarchy is that we are all encouraged to forget they’re human beings because they’re representatives of the institution,” royal author Catherine Mayer told People about the reunion. “But at its heart it is just a family—and this family has gone through extraordinary upheavals. Whatever you think of the monarchy, this is a moment most of us wanted to see happen.”
There were doubts about whether the moment would materialize from the beginning. Harry continued to have security concerns about bringing his wife and children to the UK, and reports indicated he’d first been invited to stay at Buckingham Palace, and then the invitation was revoked, which made it seem like we would not get a reunion.
“There were U-turns and backtracks, and it will have all added to the complete exasperation of the King and his aides when dealing with Harry,” Russell Myers, author of William & Catherine, said.
Harry’s reluctance to bring Meghan and the kids seems to have come from the same place as always: a concern about their security. But while all the back and forth played out in the public eye, behind the scenes, it was all “quite stressful,” a source close to the Sussexes told the outlet.
“What was billed as a big homecoming—not only for Harry but potentially for Meghan too—turned into a nightmare. It was further evidence of the fractiousness of Harry’s relationship with the institution,” Myers said.
It’s a familiar tune. “This is not the first time it has not been plain sailing with correspondence or trying to make things work,” a well-placed source said about the issues with the trip. “It all comes back to security. If that was resolved, there would be so much more certainty every time he comes—or they come.”
During this time, there were different reports about how Markle was handling it, with some suggesting she felt “humiliated” by the public back-and-forth unfold and others saying she “is very supportive” of Harry, and adding, “There’s a lot of sadness” over how it all transpired, but that when it comes to his family, “she always lets him lead.”
The week also saw the announcement that Harry had lost his privacy case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail.
For now, there won’t be any details about the meeting. “It is better that people don’t know anything about these meetings,” a source close to the family said. “They should be allowed to rekindle those family ties.”
Lizzie Lanuza
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