King Charles III receives Prince Harry and his family in the UK

King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, his wife Meghan, and their two children at their Highgrove residence in southwest England on Friday. This occasion marks the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children have reunited with the royal family in the United Kingdom in four years, according to British media citing Buckingham Palace sources.

The meeting coincided with Prince Harry's presence in England, where he has been coordinating preparations for the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Meghan and their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, reportedly traveled from an unspecified location in Europe to attend the gathering with the 77-year-old monarch.

The younger royals had not seen their grandfather in person since Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Prince Harry's visit agenda had generated some conflicting reports, with initial accounts suggesting he would stay at Buckingham Palace, which the palace later denied. There were also previous indications that Meghan and the children might not travel due to concerns over police protection arrangements.

Buckingham Palace had no immediate comment when contacted by AFP. The family gathering takes place amidst a challenging week for Prince Harry, who recently lost a High Court case against the publisher of the Daily Mail concerning alleged privacy violations. A new hearing is scheduled for July 29-30 to determine legal costs, while Harry publicly maintains his desire for reconciliation with his father following his and Meghan's step back from royal duties in 2020.