Prince Harry has surprised royal watchers once again, and this time it is not by making a dramatic revelation, but by quietly sitting down for tea with his father, King Charles, at Clarence House. It was their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024, and although it lasted only 50 minutes, it indicates something much larger: Harry is gradually laying the groundwork for a return to the UK. And yes, I think he’ll bring Archie and Lilibet with him.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting on Wednesday, with the King travelling down from Scotland to London and Harry in the UK attending charity events. When asked by reporters about his father, Harry simply said: “Yes, he’s great.” A brief comment, but one that carried more significance than it appeared. After years of icy distance, this felt like a first step towards warming relations.
Let’s be honest, Harry has not hidden his desire for his place back in the royal fold. Back in May, during a BBC interview, he spoke openly about his hopes to mend bridges. He shared: “I would love a reconciliation with my family.” That doesn’t sound like a man who has closed the door forever.
That sounds like a man who desperately wants to come back. And here’s where I think the bigger picture comes into play, his legacy. Despite his Montecito life of yoga, podcasts, and polo, Harry knows his children are part of the Royal Family.
Archie and Lilibet are the grandchildren of the King of England. They are cousins to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Can Harry really let them grow up as strangers to that world, or even afford to, as highlighted in his recent legal battle for their security costs to be covered?
We’ve seen the clues stacking up. Harry’s legal battles for police protection in Britain show he’s thinking long-term. His quiet engagements with charities suggest he’s keeping one foot firmly in the UK. Even Meghan’s absence on his recent trips speaks volumes, it’s Harry who is making the effort to keep the door open.
Yes, there are hurdles. Meghan’s feelings towards Britain are complicated at best, hostile at worst. The couple’s relationship with the press is tense. And yet Harry has always been firm, when he believes something is right, he pursues it. If he decides his children must know their roots, no one will stop him.
This latest tea with the King is more than just a polite gesture in my eyes. It signals a man who once looked set to cut ties for good quietly rebuilding them. So here’s my prediction, Harry will return to the UK, not permanently perhaps, but often enough that Archie and Lilibet begin to grow up with one foot in both worlds. California may be home, but Britain will always be heritage and Harry knows it.