Prince Harry met with King Charles for tea at Clarence House in London, marking their first face-to-face encounter in 20 months. Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting, which took place after Harry attended an event at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London.

The relationship between Harry and Charles has been strained since Harry and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California in 2020. The couple has publicly shared grievances about their experiences within the royal family, contributing to the distance between them.

Speculation about a potential meeting arose as Harry returned to the UK to commemorate the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death and to visit charities he supports. The last time Harry and Charles met was in February 2024, when Harry traveled to London after learning of his father's cancer diagnosis. During that visit, Harry spent approximately 45 minutes with Charles before the king departed for his Sandringham estate to recover from treatment.

Harry's previous visit to London in April was overshadowed by a Court of Appeal ruling that denied his request to reinstate a police protection detail, which had been revoked after he ceased being a working royal. At that time, King Charles was on a state visit to Italy, making a meeting impossible.

The legal case regarding Harry's security has complicated their relationship, as it involved Harry criticizing the king's government. Following the court's decision, Harry expressed a desire for reconciliation with his family, stating, "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has."

Despite his call for reconciliation, Harry's comments have also indicated ongoing frustrations. He emphasized that the decision to withdraw his security was made by the royal household, which he believes endangered his family's safety. "What I'm struggling to forgive, and what I will probably always struggle to forgive, is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm's way," he said.