King Charles receives Prince Harry, Meghan and their children at Highgrove

According to reports, Archie and Lilibet had last seen their grandfather in 2022. The two children had not been to Great Britain since then. The meeting at Highgrove was therefore the first opportunity for the monarch to see his grandchildren in person again since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the associated rift within the family.

Background of the rift

The visit fell during a multi-day stay by Harry in Great Britain, which had already begun on Monday in London. During this stay, Harry had reportedly already met his father in September 2025 at London's Clarence House. At the time, however, it was still unclear whether a larger family meeting with Meghan and the children would take place.

The background to the reconciliation is the rift between Harry and the royal family that has persisted for years. Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States. Since then, public accusations, media disputes and disagreements over security issues have strained the relationship with the royal household.

In 2025, a British appeals court also rejected Harry's appeal against a decision by the Home Office according to which he and his family would no longer automatically receive the same police protection status as the rest of the royal family when traveling to Great Britain. This decision had raised the question of under what conditions a family visit could take place at all.

Dispute over security and accommodation

According to British media reports, the palace had at one point even withdrawn an offer to let Harry stay at Buckingham Palace during his current visit. The reasons for this decision were speculated upon in London; the palace did not officially comment on it. Instead, Charles received the family at Highgrove, his private country estate in Gloucestershire.

Friday's meeting coincided with another legal setback for Harry. As the BBC reported, Harry lost his final lawsuit on the same day in his fight against the British tabloid press. According to reports, the outcome of this case could have financial consequences in the millions.

Legal setbacks

Despite these burdens, British media described the meeting at Highgrove as a sign of possible reconciliation. It was the first time in years that Charles had had the opportunity to spend time in person with both grandchildren. Observers interpreted the gathering as an attempt to at least partially bridge the divides within the family.

The role of Queen Camilla at the meeting was particularly highlighted in British media reports. Camilla was present at the encounter, it was said, citing Buckingham Palace. Harry's stepmother thus also took part in the family meeting, which was interpreted as a further signal of normalization.

For Harry and Meghan, who live with their children in the USA, the trip to Great Britain was associated with organizational and security-related questions. The discussion about the family's police protection status had repeatedly made headlines in recent months. According to the palace, the meeting at Highgrove took place in a private setting.

Reactions in Great Britain

The British public reacted to the news of the meeting with great interest. On social media and in daily newspapers, the reunion between Charles and his grandchildren was commented on as a historic moment. At the same time, it was pointed out that many questions about the future of the relationship between Harry and the royal household remained open.

It initially remained unclear how long Harry, Meghan and the children would stay in Great Britain. The multi-day visit to London had originally been announced as an occasion for various engagements. Whether further meetings with other members of the royal family would take place was not known at the time of reporting.

Buckingham Palace did not comment further on the content of the meeting. Neither photos nor details of the topics of conversation were published. The description as a "private Familienangelegenheit" suggests that the palace deliberately wanted to distinguish the nature of the encounter from official engagements.

Overall, the meeting at Highgrove shows that there are at least occasional attempts at reconciliation between the warring camps of the royal family. Whether this will lead to a lasting reconciliation remains open. What is clear is that the meeting was Archie and Lilibet's first encounter with their grandfather in four years.

Outlook on further meetings

The reporting on the meeting in Great Britain was accompanied by a mix of reports about Harry's legal defeats and the hope for a family reconciliation. While some commentators interpreted the encounter as a positive sign, others emphasized the existing tensions and unresolved conflicts.

For the coming days, it was expected that Harry would continue his stay in Great Britain. Whether he would also meet other members of the royal family during this time was initially unclear. The palace did not announce any further official engagements in connection with the visit.

The meeting at Highgrove marks a rare moment of publicity in an otherwise relationship marked by distance. The fact that it was precisely the children who stood at the center of the reporting underscores the symbolic significance of the reunion for the future of the family.

With the meeting, a phase ended in which Harry and his family had been spatially and emotionally distant from the British royal household. Whether the encounter at Highgrove remains a one-off event or marks the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between Harry and his father will become clear in the coming weeks.