Honestly, I believed that Prince Harry and King Charles would meet at some point this week. I realized that it would happen when I noticed that Harry had not said one word (one way or the other) about meeting his father. If Charles had rejected him or shut down the request, Harry would have called him out publicly yet again. So, long story short, Harry went to Clarence House on Wednesday afternoon. Charles had flown back to London from Balmoral on Wednesday morning. Charles didn’t come back to London solely to meet Harry – Charles has been receiving cancer treatments mid-week in London for the past 18 months or so. That’s why Charles was back in London, but sure, he made a point of having a 55-minute meeting with Harry as well.
Prince Harry and King Charles have reunited. It marks the first time that the father and son have met in person since February 2024, days after King Charles, 76, revealed he was being treated for an undisclosed cancer.
Prince Harry, 40, was seen arriving by car at Clarence House, the King’s London residence, around 5:20 p.m. local time on Sept. 10. He was inside for about 55 minutes before departing.
Following the meeting, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had a private tea at Clarence House with the Duke of Sussex and said no further details would be shared. A spokesperson for Prince Harry echoed the same, reiterating that father and son met for tea and that there would be no additional comment.
The Duke of Sussex returned to the U.K. on Sept. 8 to support some of his key charities and causes. After arriving in his home country and paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth on the third anniversary of her death on Sept. 8, Harry attended the WellChild Awards. The following day, he traveled to Nottingham, England — about 130 miles north of London — to highlight the work being done for young people there.
The father and son were both in London on Wednesday. The Duke of Sussex visited Imperial College London’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies that day, greeting fans who were waiting outside as he left. Shaking hands and snapping selfies, he excused himself by saying, “I have to go, I’m so late… I’ve got to go, I’ve got to go. Nice to meet you guys,” according to the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the King was spotted boarding a plane from Scotland, where he was spending time at Balmoral Castle in recent weeks, to the capital city.
I could not believe the kind of mainstream coverage this got. The Wall Street Journal, WaPo, NBC News, the BBC, Sky News, and more, all providing breathless coverage like it was a 21st century Potsdam. CNN even had “breaking news” coverage with the banner and everything. Anyway, I’m glad they saw each other for the first time in a year and a half. On Harry’s side, I think he just wanted to see his father and be able to hold his only living parent for a brief moment. On Charles’s side, who even knows. I think it was mostly Charles acknowledging that he can’t continue to ignore this huge problem, which is the years-long Sussexit fallout and estrangement. Also: At Harry’s evening event for Invictus (more on that in another post), he was asked about his father by a reporter. Harry said: “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
I said this on Twitter yesterday, but it’s worth repeating here: we’ve got at least two full weeks of Kensington Palace rage-briefing over this meeting. Plates are being smashed, pillows are being thrown, and there’s enough incandescent rage to power all of the lightbulbs in England.
Prince Harry arrives at Clarence House to meet his father, King Charles, for the first time in 19 months👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/to4ix023VH
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) September 10, 2025
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Britain’s King Charles visits the Sandringham Flower Show at Sandringham House, Norfolk, Britain July 23, 2025.,Image: 1024982134, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Radburn/Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles visits the Sandringham Flower Show at Sandringham House, Norfolk, Britain July 23, 2025.,Image: 1024982163, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Radburn/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025.,Image: 1029533143, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Giddens/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Royal Windsor flower show Featuring: King Charles III Where: Windsor, United Kingdom When: 07 Jun 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- King Charles III inspects the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral, as he takes up summer residence at the castle Featuring: King Charles III Where: Balmoral, United Kingdom When: 18 Aug 2025 Credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III arrives for a visit to the Oratory of St Philip Neri, Birmingham, following the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman, to view historic items in the library and the Cardinal’s personal effects in his room, which has remained untouched since his death. Featuring: King Charles III Where: Birmingham, United Kingdom When: 03 Sep 2025 Credit: Chris Jackson/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke of Sussex attends the annual WellChild Awards 2025, which celebrates the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Sep 2025 Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke of Sussex speaks at the annual WellChild Awards 2025, which celebrates the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel Featuring: Prince Harry Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Sep 2025 Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Prince Harry visit to the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham. The centre teaches film and video skills as well as music, giving young people access to professional equipment and industry figures Featuring: Prince Harry Where: Nottingham, United Kingdom When: 09 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR HELLO MAGAZINE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex departs a visit to The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, United Kingdom Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Nottingham, United Kingdom When: 09 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR HELLO MAGAZINE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives at London’s Imperial College to visit the Centre for Blast Injury Studies Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, United Kingdom When: 10 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR HELLO MAGAZINE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex visits Imperial College London’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies. Harry will receive an update on the work of the Centre for Injury Studies and its more recent focus on paediatric blast and crush injuries – demonstrating the research for child amputees and what is being done to maximise learning for conflict and disaster zones. He will meet senior academics and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisations (WHO) Centre For Injury Studies Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, United Kingdom When: 10 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images
Happy Harry was able to see his father
Harry is a compassionate and loving man. I hope his father isn’t playing him because Charles is not a good guy.
If Harry’s only goal was to see his father, goal accomplished.
I was just thinking how if they were a normal family and Charles wasn’t so petty he would be so proud of Harry’s accomplishments. He really is living his best life.
so william clearly did not know about this meeting, right? If he did, there’s no way he would have been in Wales yesterday.
Or maybe he thought being in Wales gave him a cover for not being invited? Either way things are being thrown somewhere tonight -whether its Adelaide, 1A or Anmer.
I’m glad for Harry because we know that some sort of thawing in relations is what he has wanted. I also think its clear that both sides agreed on what they would say to the press, their statements are too similar otherwise.
I had a feeling this was in the works because the past few times he’s been in town BP “insiders” have been snarky about the king not seeing him – “he’s just so busy, he’s the king, what does Harry expect, he needs to go to Romania, he’s BUSY!!!! He doesn’t have time for his darling boy!!!!” And we didn’t get any of that briefing this time.
William is flipping a coin right now to decide whether to go with “I didn’t know about this because I never would have allowed it to happen” or “this was my brilliant idea all along and I orchestrated the whole thing.”
He’ll probably just leak to his favourite sources that he’ll put a stop to Harry’s visits once he is king. I wish with all my heart that he tries to take credit for arranging the meeting (keen peacemaker 2.0, if you will). Every time he’s tried to do that (remember when he tried to take credit for dealing with Andrew?) Charles and co immediately make it clear that he has no power and isn’t even involved in high level meetings.
I still don’t trust charles. I think there is an ulterior motive to him all of a sudden agreeing to this meeting and i think it has more to do with William than we think.
You don’t have to trust Charles but it is better for all concerned (except William) if they are on speaking terms and not at war.
Charles has no relationship with either of his children. That’s his legacy. He’s going to try to repair both before he goes.
I think both children understand their father, but publicly, Harry needs to pretend to try, or they will hound him for years after Charles’ death.
None of us need to “trust” Charles. I’m sure Harry doesn’t fully either. He knows him better than any of us.
I absolutely think this has a lot to do with William. Think of what we’ve heard over the past month or so about how bad Charles and William’s relationship is. For a long time we heard they were in “lockstep” re Harry and we haven’t heard that in a while. Instead we’ve heard they barely talk, they might not have even seen each other at Balmoral, Charles is annoyed at William’s lack of work and 5th house, etc.
This could very well just be a matter of Charles sending a message to William, trying to put him in his place, etc.
WanK ‘s schedule this week reflects the prior knowledge they had of H’s itinerary which points to intelligence sharing between BP and KP. In that same vein, I think BP would have informed KP about KFC and H’s catch-up. I can’t see KFC wanting to incite W’s rage by going behind his back. The man did say to them that he didn’t want his last days to be a misery.
I feel like William is going to rage about Harry no matter what. If he knew about the meeting, he probably would have tried to insist that it not happen and screamed at Charles over it. If he didn’t know, then someone at KP and/or BP is getting screamed at today. The big reason I think he didn’t know about it is that I think he would have staged a photo op with Charles at Balmoral if he knew. But maybe he just found out about it over the weekend?
Part of me wonders if, after 43 years, Charles has accepted that William is just going to rage no matter what, so might as well stop trying to avoid it. But I think that would require a degree of reflection that the royals just dont have.
Don’t you think a photo op would have been even more desperately obvious than the desperately obvious flurry of “work” WanK have scheduled for this week?
@SURE I think this week proves that W&K don’t care how desperately obvious they look 🤣🤣
@SURE, I agree that KP knew about Harry’s schedule, thought so when I saw Will had scheduled his own “serious event” on the same day Harry visited the blast injury center. To make a four day visit I thought Harry must have requested and been granted security, and we know he had to submit his schedule for that. BP wouldn’t have wanted to totally piss off William by not sharing it. @Becks1, W&K still looked desperately obvious, but setting up a photo op at Balmoral would have needed Charles’ cooperation, and apparently he had other plans. Whether Will was in Wales because he threw a hissy fit and wanted to be far away, because he was told to stay out of the way by Charles (and listened?), or because he saw some future benefit for himself, who knows. I still think this apparent “thaw” has something to do with Invictus being in the UK, Charles seeing good future PR opportunities, and realizing with IG on home soil he can’t continue to ignore them.
I agree the last minute barrage of new engagements for wank suggests they were told of the meeting between Charles and Harry over the weekend. Because they knew Harry was coming for well child a few weeks ago.
I’m happy Harry was able to see his father.
I’m glad they have finally got together, hope it continues, as for William, he just looks petty.
I am glad for Harry, his dad is his only living parent. Harry is a very kind and decent man.
And very forgiving.
This visit has been a stonking success for Harry on every level. I was thrilled at how welcomed he was by the people that matter to Harry. I even shed a tear at coming home from work to the news that father and son had taken afternoon tea together. If Charles is as ill as reported then it makes it so important for both to meet now.💕
I let out such a shriek of laughter when I saw this yesterday. Harry strides into town, visiting charities, hugging children, showing compassion, donating money, having tea with his father – and the media is ablaze. W&K scrambling and stumbling into the light for the first time in weeks, lurching from one hastily planned engagement to another…and the biggest reaction is to Kate’s giant wig.
I admit, I howled as well.
Something about this week reminds me of their “you could have had a bad bitch” tour in March 2020. Like Harry is just being Harry, he’s not trying to prove anything, but its just so clear why he was such a good working royal and what the Firm lost when they pushed him and his wife out.
Nailed it. William the eternally lazy only deigns to work when Harry is around, and Harry’s barely around (by William’s own design!) so William never gets any practice. Harry is good at this, and William just kind of sucks in public. And then he goes and fumes about it, raging to his besties in the rota about how nobody likes Harold etc etc.
I’m happy for Harry. It seems like seeing his remaining parent was the beginning and end of his goals for the meeting. I hope Charles was decent and it went well.
And brace yourselves, Kaiser is right, for two weeks of (checks notes) William rage-briefing about how, when he’s king, he’ll remove the HRHs from Harry and his little children.
And Meghan titles
He can’t remove Meghan’s titles. He can’t remove Harry’s titles. Meghan automatically assumed the titles as the wife of a titled man. She is Duchess of Sussex because she married the Duke of Sussex. She is also, in the UK tradition, Princess Henry because she married Prince Henry.
That would just make William look petty and vindictive. Well he is petty and vindictive anyway.
LOL. Well he is petty and vindictive.
Williams to lazy to do anything except rage and say what he plans on doing. No follow through or results coming from him.
To take the Sussex title he would have to go through Parliament, how would he justify taking away a gift given by his grandmother, Harry has committed no crime, Andrew is still Duke of York and the FBI are still after him. It would make William just look vindictive if he went after Harry and not Andrew. Not a good look for a King who is supposed to be benevolent and head of the Church of England.
Benevolent and William in the same sentence?
Good for them. This was about Harry and Charles and their meeting should remain private.
Let’s wait to see if they report where Seabiscuit was during this meeting.
Was she in the room? Or was she listening at keyholes, grinding her teeth in arrogant irritation?
Also, why less than an hour, again, after a year and a half?
I honestly think the only reason this even happened is because the press, jonesing for copy, started calling Chucky out for being a dogsh-t father. He hates being seen in a bad light. This was just a tidbit of red meat to the wolves. He still doesn’t give a fig about either of his sons, and never valued them beyond how he could use them as human shields vs. the press.
Harry had another event yesterday evening after meeting with Charles; he actually ended up there slightly late after being at Clarence House. Harry’s been the one who was more tightly scheduled the last few days.
Which rather implies that he didn’t know he was going to be invited for tea.
She might still be in Scotland, I’m not sure. I saw that Charles was seen arriving from Balmoral but not sure if she was included in that.
It’s been reported that Camilla wasn’t there. She may have stayed at Balmoral – Charles is said to be returning there today.
@sunnyside up – not necessarily. Traffic in London has been bad because of a tube strike and when Harry left Clarence House it was still rush hour. Harry had the same problem on another day, arrived late to an event because he was stuck in traffic. I agree with Kaiser above, Harry not saying anything either way about a meeting was a signal, this was planned.
What was it Harry said in Spare about his father and the press? Something like, “He hated their hate, but oh how he loved their love.” Charles is all about good press coverage, even at the expense of this children.
And yet, one of the newspapers had “the FULL inside story of their meeting” as the front page banner 😀 .
All of the prats who didn’t know the meeting was happening are all of a sudden going to be claiming to be in the know about everything, including which cakes and biscuits were served and how many sips of tea each man took.
If Charles is sincere an apology to Meghan and harry is needed and he needs to see Archie and Lily. I hope harry does not get disappointed. Charles needs to put a stop to the media attacks on harry and meghan.
He should have done that years ago, we might not have these problems now if he had.
Chucky knows the end is near, and everyone knows he is a loser as a father.
Harry is a kind hearted person, glad that he saw his sperm donor, bet he was shocked at his father’s appearance.
Bloody hell the Windsors have to be pissed at the love Harry is getting from the general public, without force busing of schoolchildren to events.
I’m glad this visit happened. For Harry’s sake, I hope they stay in touch and work toward reconciliation. Spare makes it clear that Harry deeply loves his father. If his father were to die without any resolution between them, it’s something Harry would likely regret for the rest of his life — so this is a positive step for him.
Charles needs to apologize to meghan and give her the respect she deserves.
Pigs flying comes to mind.
This is exactly what I thought: if Charles dies tomorrow, at least Harry can say that (a) he tried his best and (b) at least he saw him just before he died. I mean, look at all the reports saying how they have met “for the first time in 19 months”. They have been running a clock and using it to bash Harry over the head, totally neglecting the chief role Charles the terrible played in this “estrangement”.
This in NO way excuses how vile Charles has been, but at least Harry has ticked that box, if that makes sense. Neither does it mean that there will be a “reconciliation”. Seems to me that Harry came to do his charity work with zero expectation of meeting his father, having already made it clear that the ball was in Charles’ court. Let’s see how quickly the vipers rush to leak or construct narratives and then claim that “Harry is leaking because he’s desperate to return”.
“If his father were to die without any resolution between them, it’s something Harry would likely regret for the rest of his life — so this is a positive step for him.“
— Gee, I hope not. Harry has no cause to regret anything he’s done, as far as I can see. If anything, he’s been more conciliatory than the other parties deserve.
Certainly after he found out his father had been advising European governments not to provide him with security.
I was out last night with friends who don’t usually follow royal family news or celebrity gossip. And one of them brought up that Harry and Charles had gotten together and then she and her husband both laughed and made growly faces and grrr sounds as they made fun of how angry “Harry’s brother, the other son” probably was over it. Not a great look for William that even casual observers think of him as overly angry,
I’m glad for Harry that it happened and I’m glad no one is briefing about it.
I hope Charles wasn’t an utter disappointment.
Mmmmm….when your father agrees to meet you, but only if his people can give the media a heads up, we know he’s an utter disappointment for using you once again to rehabilitate his image.
I know that everyone has been talking about pillows being thrown at Wailses residence. But has anyone checked on the number of broken phones, televisions, drink glasses, vases (hopefully no antiques), shoes thrown through windows,etc? The incandescent rage has got to be off the charts, particularly for the last few days.
I mean news programs running split screen comparisons has got to be gutting the “global statesman ” 🤣🤣🤣😂
I’m glad Harry got to see his father but I suspect Charles was only willing to see him now because he and William have fallen out.
I think William and Charles were always on the outs with each other. Anything suggesting a close relationship between the two is just propaganda. Let’s not forget that when Charles was first diagnosed with cancer, it was Harry who saw him first, not the bother who lived in the same town just a short drive away.
Yes, Charles wasn’t a dogsh*t father only to Harry.
I’m happy for Harry that he got a chance to see his father. That said, this was a hilarious media move by Charles – all of the Wales’ frantic fussing and briefing that they would be doing as many as three (3!) days of work in a row now that Harry was in town all for nothing. In a way, it’s incredibly sad that Charles is still playing his sons off against one another in the media, putting William firmly in his place and letting the media speculate about whether this means Harry wants to be back in the royal family. But I can’t help but laugh.
🎯
I’m honestly happy for Harry. Like everyone said, Charles is his only living parent and I’m sure he wants to be on good terms with him in his final years.
I hope Charles will ignore raging Willy and continue to have an open line of communication with Harry.
Something Charles should have done in 2020, he should have kept Huevo out of the discussions.
I’m happy for Harry he did get to see his father. I hope (pray) that Charles made every effort to begin the reconciliation process. But … I also have so little faith in Charles that I think he only met with Harry because he was told to for PR purposes
Charles is estranged from both his sons because he has always been to self-involved and or only able to care about his 2nd wife
He seems fundamentally unable to genuinely love anyone other than himself. He’s not wired right
He apparently gets along very well with his step kids.
They are pleased that he married their mum and made her Queen. Diana is of no consequence to them.
It’s because his step kids are not known to the public and can’t “eclipse” him.
Despite everything that’s happened, I can understand why Harry wanted to see his father. Having already lost one parent too soon, he knows better than anyone that we don’t know how much time we have left with our older (and ailing) family members. Yes, Charles is a bad father but he’s the only one Harry has. From reading “Spare” it seems clear that there is love left there and also compassion and sympathy. Harry has those in spades.
The love seems very one-sided.
I know, I agree. He loves but is not loved in return. I imagine he’s aware of the discrepancy and is coming to terms with it if he hasn’t already. I still get why he wanted to see him, though. He will want to have some closure when his father is gone.
55 minutes. Not “almost an hour” or “about an hour.” They had to make sure they said it was less than an hour.
Do most royal engagements last even 55 minutes? I think from KFC’s perspective, seeing H was just another engagement in his diary that he needed to cross off before he could do what he really wanted to do. It’s sad for H, but then again, he knows his father was never cut out for (single) parenthood.
Well Harry had an important event right afterwards, so Charles and his handlers making sure the reporters can gloat over the “less than an hour” duration aren’t making the point they think they are. Harry was and remains booked and busy, so if anyone made space in his schedule for the meeting, it’s him.
I know, that’s cold.
Good for Harry, getting to see his father. Doesn’t matter what Charles’ motives are. Harry’s seem purely about a son wanting to reconnect with his ill father. Anyone who cannot identify with that has no heart.
I believe William thought it wouldn’t happen because HE didn’t want it to happen and will be absolutely furious that it took place. The temper tantrum will be epic and, in the end, it will only shine more of a light on the fact that William and Charles are not on speaking terms.
The visits that Harry had this time around felt slightly different.
I am wondering if an agreement has been made between him and the King that his occasional visits will take on a more royal engagement look.
Cause William and Kate are not stepping up….
I am glad Charles isnt as much of a puppet as I thought . Surely this is something Camilla and William wouldn’t have wanted but It looks like Charles dug his heels in to meet his younger boy . It is important to both to get and give some closure and forgiveness . However petulant and entitled the King is , he isnt an idiot and its clear that the only way his stupid dynasty can survive is if he gets Harry on board to charm the masses . With those two losers, W and K messing up every day , he can see the writing on the wall ..the end of the monarchy is imminent
I want harry to be with his wife and children not work part time. In the uk Will would make his like miserable when he’s in charge
Seaside, I thought that he had some kind of security, which he hasn’t had in the past. I didn’t consider his engagements had anything to do with being royal. Harry does this wherever he goes, so I suspect it appeared royal because it was the UK and that’s the lens that the people in the UK view things.
Seaside….this is how all their engagements have looked even when they traveled to other countries. Difference is that there wasn’t as much British media figures allowed.
Also I expect Harry to be traveling to the UK more in preparation for Invictus 2027. This is what he did for Vancouver. They traveled there 3/4 times before the actual games.
Let’s hope William doesn’t get his way and have Harry forced out by 2027. He seems h-bent on taking away everything he has.
I’m happy for Harry but imagine having to “ schedule” a short visit like that. How sad and ridiculous that it couldn’t be an informal stopping by to see “ Pa”
That is one weirdass family.
Glad for Harry … I’m ambivalent about what this signifies for Charles — monarchists will claim this proves what a big heart Charles has, as if meeting his son for less than an hour was some grand and selfless gesture.
Hopefully it is the first step.
Excellent analysis.
The breathless coverage of Harry’s car going into Clarence House and then leaving 55m later is hilarious. Checkmate, Charles. William’s move next. I hope Harry got what he wanted out of the visit.
Right! Before I say what I’m going to say I’m going to qualify my sentiment by saying “Yes I know KCIII has been an awful father.” That being said when I saw Harry leaving CH I have to admit I felt sympathy for KCIII. Not just because he’s ill but because having watched the H&M doc, I’m hazarding a guess that William will have picked up the phone and gone full “rage monster” on KCIII. We never saw what William texted on the documentary but, it was enough for Meghan to get up and hug Harry. I can’t even begin to imagine what William will scream at his father for daring to ignore his wishes and meet with his youngest son. As I’ve said I’m not a huge fan of KCIII but, if he wants to meet with his youngest son and Harry is happy to do so then it’s no-one’s business but theirs (and that includes the FK.)
Those photos of H leaving CH reminded me of the ones of him arriving at Balmoral to see QEII following her passing. The droplets of rain on the windscreen, his black suit and skinny tie and downcast expression were eerily similar.
Charles doesn’t have to take William’s calls if he doesn’t want to or see William if he doesn’t want to. Kate and the staff will bear the brunt of William’s wrath. Charles probably won’t interact with William again until Remembrance Day in November, unless William gets his act together. So William has two months to sulk and pout to his heart’s content.
With the state visit coming up, they will have to interact somewhat…(or at least be in the same place at the same time for some events)
Excellent point. Nobody is calling Charles directly. They call a switchboard–I swear, I’d bet anything they still use a switchboard!–get a lackey on the phone who may or may not pass along the message. If Charles doesn’t want to have William screaming at him on the phone he doesn’t have to nor, do I suspect, does he.
So my take is that BP, at least, has finally realized they need to change their strategy for interacting with Harry. They haven’t succeeded in forcing Harry back into the royal fold and Harry and Meghan are going to keep working and supporting charities publicly. I wonder if the new Netflix contract was the final nail in the firms delusions? I also suspect that the upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham caused some government pressure for BP to change their strategy.
I would not be surprised if there was some government pressure here. the chief of the armed forces can’t ignore the IG when they’re happening in his country and the world is watching.
If you’ve ever had a parent who was desperately insecure and consequently needed to overcompensate by triangulating their relationships with family members in order to attain that dopamine rush of blissful if temporary serenity — by making other people fight over them, for their acknowledgement, attention, endorsement, etc. — then you also know that a one-on-one is a terrifying prospect for that parent. If you are the child, you already have the moral high ground, anyway. It kind of comes with the territory. But what narcissists — and it can’t be stated often enough how most of them are insecure, acutely conscious of lacking a personality or even a soul of their own — most fear, is being put on the spot. Being cornered. They get feral. They drive at any pretext to avoid confrontation, and what they interpret as confrontation is just having to look you in the eye. It’s that restless shifty awful creeping sense that you’ve come as an agent of reckoning. So you dim your light just to appeal to their mercy. Cause they can be ferocious when they feel threatened. And what they see as a threat, is what others see merely as frankness, or accountability. It can be easier on both sides to let sleeping dogs lie. I give harry an immense amount of credit for walking into the lion’s den and making the lion with a thorn in its paw show it to him. That’s the image I get. Pacifying the man who has been enabled for decades to indulge his worst instincts, in confronting that person with honesty and love, you attain a moral victory. It’s not about scoring points. Good king harry.
Excellent analysis.
Absolutely brilliant comment and analysis of the situation.
@ParkRunMum – Wow, beautifully written and very insightful. I recently had an encounter with my own narcissist relative and you could have been describing them, Your words hit the bull’s eye.
I hope this “visit “ with his father gave Harry some peace. I think it also puts the ball in Peg’s court to man up and stop acting like a toddler. Between his laziness and greediness, always wanting more, William is on thin ice as far as his reputation. He doesn’t have to like Harry, he just has to grow up and stop being childish. Now whether he has the mental bandwidth to do that is the question.
I wonder what Camilla thinks?
I was wondering about that. Did they lock her in the dungeon during the visit or just give her a couple of bottles to nurse? I’m sure she’s plotting some kind of way to wreck things. She can’t have anyone close to Charles who isn’t under her control.
Right? Like she really did disappear for a few days. But I’m sure Sunday papers she’ll be out guns blazing lol.
Man the briefings this weekend are gonna be a hot mess between William Charles and Camilla.
But it’s crazy to see how much breaking news the “reconciliation” was considering what’s happening in the world. It would behoove Charles to not let his palace insiders and experts mess this up for him.
I’m happy for him because it’s what he wants. I think it’s clear the press was told so they could be there, which means that was probably a requirement of Charles. I’m sure we’ll get palace sources telling us what happened, I don’t think that will come from the only two people there, but it will be sold as fact and believed. I do struggle with the well it’s his father so they should have a relationship. His father helped almost kill his wife! But it’s not my life. I hope harry is at peace and happy, with his eyes fully open.( I do see harry agreeing to part time for Charles, I know people say never but I could see it)
What would be great is if Charles just made sure Harry had all the security he needs when he comes to support his UK patronages. If he agrees to do work for his father specifically, the courtiers would feel they have a right to poke into the Sussex businesses. Meghan and Harry have succeeded so well because the palace rejected the half-in model. Thank god, because if they had accepted it, there would be interference in every business decision being made. There is no way the Sussexes can trust Charles and the palace machinery. Charles exploited a teen-age Harry for his own PR. Mind you, Harry is a grown man, and is now of a stature that he can meet his pathetic dad on an equal basis. It seems to me that now Harry just wants to have time to see his father and to say good-bye before he is gone. It’s clear that Charles is terminally ill.
Part time would be inviting Harry to Remembrance Day or VJ Day, something related to the military. But I doubt if William would put up with that so Charles could try to use it as a way to get William to show up. I think that could be Charles’s motivation for seeing Harry rather any parental affection.
I need some people to realize that being at perceived “war” with your father/son is not good for business. This is the best strategy and should have been the strategy from the beginning. It allows the focus to be on their ventures instead of personal relationships.
Now do I trust Charles. Nope. I expect some version of lies to leak in the next few days/weeks from his minions but Harry looks like the bigger person and it gives Meghan a little bit of a reprieve from the constant hate. (Atleast like 2 days break).