Prince Harry rejects 'sabotaging' claims about reconciliation with King Charles
In a rare statement, the Duke of Sussex refutes reports that his Clarence House meeting with King Charles III was cold or formal, and confirms a photographed gesture during their first in 19 months together.
Prince Harry on Saturday pushed back against reports that his reunion with King Charles III was distinctly formal and left him feeling like an official visitor. In a rare statement, the Duke of Sussex said the quotes were categorically false and suggested the reporting was intended to sabotage any chance of reconciliation. His spokesman told People that the characterization of the meeting as overly formal was not accurate, and implied the sources behind the description were attempting to undermine the father-and-son relationship.
Harry’s comments address a Sept. 10 meeting at Clarence House in London, the first since their last in-person encounter about 19 months earlier. The meeting reportedly lasted just under an hour. The royal household has not issued a detailed public account of the conversation, but various outlets cited differing narratives about the tone and atmosphere. One detail that remained consistent across reporting was that the king offered an early birthday gift ahead of Harry’s Sept. 15 birthday, when he turned 41.
At the meeting, Harry arrived in a black Range Rover and, according to sources close to the process, brought photographs and video materials related to his children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. The representative for Harry confirmed that a framed photograph was handed to Charles during the exchange, but stressed that the image did not show the Duke or Duchess of Sussex. Several outlets reported that the mood of the reunion was more cordial than tense, with discussions described by insiders as personal and sincere rather than ceremonial.
Following tea, Harry addressed reporters by briefly commenting on his father’s health status, noting that Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, was doing well. The comments were consistent with prior public statements from aides that the king’s health had remained stable; they did not appear to signal any new disclosure about the illness. In the days surrounding the meeting, a mix of outlets described the moment as emotional for both men, with one insider telling Us Weekly that they shared a long hug and tears, underscoring how much they had missed one another. Other reports portrayed the exchange as positive and hopeful about a path forward, though the specifics varied among sources.
Harry’s spokesman pushed back against the most pointed descriptions of the tone and dynamics of the reunion, saying that the quotes attributed to the duke were pure invention, fed by sources assumed to be intent on sabotaging reconciliation. The spokesperson also confirmed that gifts were exchanged, including the framed photograph, while noting that some details discussed by Page Six and other outlets were private family matters that had been shared publicly only to illustrate the gesture of connection between father and son. The rep added that while privacy would have been preferable for such personal exchanges, clarifying the facts was necessary to prevent a misleading narrative from taking hold.
The news comes as a continuing chapter in a complex, high-profile relationship that has drawn intense public and media scrutiny for years. The Sept. 10 meeting marked the first direct contact between Harry and Charles in 19 months, a period during which the siblings and their spouses have navigated a shifting family dynamic shaped by royal responsibilities, media visibility, and ongoing questions about the extent of their future involvement with the royal duties and charities that have defined their public lives.
Observers have noted that public statements from the Sussex camp in recent months emphasize a desire for privacy and a more constructive dialogue, while critics warn that the path to reconciliation in a family of public figures is inherently delicate and susceptible to competing narratives. The conflicting portrayals of the Clarence House meeting—ranging from a formal, official-sounding encounter to an emotional, personal reunion—illustrate the challenge of presenting private moments in the court of public opinion. In this environment, Harry’s insistence that the published quotes were false seeks to reframe the episode as a sincere effort at renewal rather than a staged or ceremonial engagement.
Reps for Harry and Meghan Markle did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment on the latest developments. As the royal family continues to maneuver through a period of renewed interaction and media interest, observers will watch for additional details about any forthcoming conversations and the potential for future visits that could signal a change in the pace or nature of their public engagement.