Prince Harry made a heartfelt “promise” to his father, King Charles, during their private meeting in London on Wednesday, September 10, according to reports.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, and the monarch, 76, were seen together for the first time in 19 months. Their last meeting had taken place in early 2024, when Harry flew to the UK after learning of his father’s cancer diagnosis.
This week’s reunion happened at Clarence House in London. Harry arrived at 5.20pm BST and stayed for around 55 minutes before heading to an Invictus Games reception in Central London. When asked about the King’s health upon arriving at the event, Harry responded with a smile: “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
Buckingham Palace later confirmed that father and son shared a “private tea” at the King’s residence.
A Step Toward Rebuilding Trust
According to the Daily Mail, Harry reassured his father that the details of their conversation would remain private. A source told the publication that Harry promised not to give interviews about the meeting and had instructed his team not to brief journalists on what was said.
“This is an important first step towards rebuilding their father-and-son relationship,” the source explained. “There’s a long way to go before Harry can earn his family’s trust, but he’s given some assurances.”
The decision carries particular weight given Harry’s past openness in his 2023 memoir Spare and in several high-profile interviews, where he has previously spoken about private family conversations.
What Might Have Been Discussed
While no details of the tea have been disclosed, speculation has surfaced. Charles’ former royal butler, Grant Harrold, suggested the pair may have touched on Harry’s recent charity work, his relationship with Meghan Markle, and ongoing tensions with Prince William.
“I’m sure it wouldn’t have been the easiest of conversations,” Harrold told OLBG. “I imagine it would have been slightly awkward on both sides. There is only so much talking their advisors can do. At the end of the day, it needs to be father and son sitting down to resolve this.”
He added: “We may never know the outcome of this. We may see relations improve or decrease depending on the outcome, but only time will tell.”
For now, their meeting has been described as a small but significant move towards healing one of the Royal Family’s most strained relationships.
