King Charles is weighing whether to meet Prince Harry when his younger son returns to London next week, according to an insider, but Prince William may be the key obstacle.
Harry will be in the capital on September 8 for the annual WellChild Awards, an event he has supported for many years.
The date also marks the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
While reports have suggested the King and Duke of Sussex could meet, sources close to the royal household caution that nothing has been confirmed.
King Charles faces dilemma over Harry meeting as William’s circle calls it a ‘terrible idea’
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GETTY / PA
According to friends of the Prince of Wales, William is strongly opposed to any audience being granted to his brother.
He believes such a meeting would risk conferring legitimacy on Harry, who has published a memoir and taken part in television projects critical of the Royal Family.
One friend of William told the Daily Beast: “Ultimately, William is a loyal soldier.
“He respects his father’s rank, and he respects his father’s right to make his own decisions, and he won’t make a fuss if it happens.
“But he thinks a Harry meeting is a terrible, terrible idea.”
Last year, similar speculation arose around the WellChild Awards, but no meeting took place.
A few months prior, the Duke of Sussex travelled to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral.
At the time, Harry released a statement noting that he had hoped to see his father, but Charles had “other priorities.”
Prince Harry arriving at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, 2024 for the service
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Meredith Maines has been hired as the Sussexes’ new head of communications
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LINKEDIN / MEREDITH MAINES
Representatives from the two camps held informal discussions about diaries in July 2025, a gesture viewed by some as a sign of thawing relations.
GB News understands Meredith Maines, Chief Communications Officer for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was in London to meet Prince Harry and Meghan’s UK Director of Communications, Liam Maguire.
She also met the Sussexes’ UK-based team, journalists, other stakeholders and senior figures related to Prince Harry’s charity work.
The visit was viewed as “entirely routine” and part of ongoing planning and engagement. Ms Maines is one of Harry and Meghan’s senior aides and works out of Montecito.