After day one of Prince Harry’s highly anticipated UK return, there is still no indication as to whether the King will grant him a meeting. The Duke of Sussex is understood to be desperate to meet his father, as the pair have not seen each other for 19 months.
But the King, who sources repeatedly state is a “forgiving man” and misses having a relationship with his youngest son, has a lot to consider. As both monarch and patriarch, he has to consider how the rest of the Royal Family will respond to a meeting, as many are still reeling from the damning attacks Harry has made in the five years since quitting the Firm.
Several senior members, notably the Queen and the Prince of Wales, have not forgotten the extremely personal and harmful claims Harry made in his memoir, as well as the Netflix documentary and Oprah interview alongside his wife, Meghan.
Harry spoke of a physical fight with his older brother during an argument about the Duchess, said Camilla was “dangerous” because of her connections to the media, and bitter arguments between Kate and Meghan.
For William, who’s priority lies with his immediate family and his role as heir, there is no chance of a meeting – and won’t be for some time to come. But it is different with the King, who a source says “loves both of his sons and would like to find peace”.
However, the King needs to trust that Harry won’t leak details of the meeting to the press, as last time they met the Duke appeared on TV just 10 days later.
And only a few months ago the Duke fuelled speculation about the King’s health after saying he does not “know how much longer my father has left”. He then went on to say his father “won’t speak to me” because of his legal battle with the Home Office, but he wanted “reconciliation”.
Now the court case has come to an end, there appears to be some acknowledgement from Harry that he perhaps went too far in his crusade against his UK security arrangements.
A relationship with his father is now what he wants to focus on, and is keen for his two children to spend some time with their grandfather.
With the King flying back to London on Wednesday for his weekly course of cancer treatment, there is certainly an opportunity for the pair to meet mid-week.
Harry has several engagements and meeting planned during his final two days in the UK, but it is understood he would would be all too happy to reorganise his diary in favour of a visit to Clarence House.
The ball lies firmly in the King’s court, and it will be for him to weigh up the pros and cons of such a meeting.
On a human level, the King wants to meet his son, but he has to consider the wider ramifications of such a reunion, especially if it’s played out in the public eye.
We may never find out if the pair during Harry’s longest trip back to his homeland since Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, if both sides agree a media blackout on the event.
Trust lies at the heart of this family rift, and only time will tell if the monarch is ready to reopen the door to his son after the hurt caused.