Additional Coverage:
- Why King Charles won’t make time to visit Prince Harry or his grandchildren while in US (irishstar.com)
King Charles III chose not to visit his son, Prince Harry, and grandchildren during his recent trip to the United States, reportedly to avoid having their reunion overshadow the official purpose of his visit, according to a British royal expert.
The monarch and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday to begin a four-day state visit aimed at celebrating the longstanding ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Buckingham Palace emphasized that the trip’s focus was on diplomatic relations and historic connections, with no public plans indicating a meeting with Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, who reside in California.
John McDermott, a producer of royal podcasts including “Palace Intrigue” and “Crown and Controversy – King Charles,” suggested that a private visit could detract from the state visit’s significance. “If Charles met with Harry, it would overshadow the trip and shift media attention away from the official agenda,” McDermott explained.
“The spotlight this week is on Charles and Camilla. A meeting with Harry would create competing narratives.”
This visit marks King Charles’s first trip to the U.S. since Harry and his family relocated to California after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 amid concerns over media intrusion and racial bias. The trip is intended strictly for state business, following a visit from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to the UK last September.
Prince Harry and Meghan initially moved to Canada before settling in California with their children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4. Earlier this year, Harry returned to the UK to see his father after Charles announced a cancer diagnosis, but he reportedly did not meet with his brother, Prince William, with whom relations remain strained following the publication of Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” in 2023.
In an interview last year, Harry expressed a hope for reconciliation, noting the uncertainty of his father’s health.
During his U.S. visit, King Charles delivered a rare address to Congress, highlighting the strong alliance between the two nations and addressing global challenges such as the conflict in Iran, the resulting oil crisis, and tensions within NATO.
The event sparked some controversy among U.S. lawmakers, particularly Democrats, who faced criticism for applauding the king amid the ongoing No Kings movement that arose during the Trump administration. In a playful nod to the past, the White House shared a photo of King Charles with former President Donald Trump, captioned “TWO KINGS.”