Neither Prince Harry’s father nor his brother have visited California to see his new life, but that could soon change. King Charles reportedly wants to visit his son, though not everyone in the royal family supports the idea.
Prince Harry’s relationship with the royal family has deteriorated over time. Since leaving the royal fold, he has released a memoir, and a documentary, and participated in several interviews, all casting a negative light on his relatives. As a result, Harry and his family remain distant.
Despite the strained relationship, King Charles still loves his son and hopes to reconcile. Reports suggest Charles is planning a trip to California, although some royal family members “can’t understand why.”
Currently, Charles and Harry are on better-speaking terms than a few years ago, but their relationship is far from mended. Harry visited his father in February following Charles’s cancer diagnosis. However, during Harry’s return to the UK in May, the two did not meet. Rumors now circulate that Charles wants to visit California to experience Harry and Meghan Markle’s new life firsthand.
“He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lilibet will not remember him as the warm, friendly grandfather he wants to be,” royal expert Tom Quinn told Express. A source informed New Idea magazine that Charles is “feeling a little better” after cancer treatment and might be up for a trip to Montecito to spend time with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Yet, not everyone supports the plan.
“William can’t understand why Charles would go out on a limb like this,” a source told New Idea. “Camilla is against the trip for health reasons. The Australia tour in October is going to be a lot for a man of his age with cancer, let alone an emotional transatlantic journey to visit his estranged son.”
Harry and Charles’s relationship has been rocky, partly because Harry has demanded an apology that he and Meghan Markle have not received. However, Charles’s willingness to fly to Montecito could be the olive branch Harry has long awaited. For years, Harry has sought an apology from the royals for their treatment of him and Meghan. Though no formal apology has been given, this visit might symbolize Charles’s attempt to make amends.
Much remains uncertain about whether Charles will actually make the trip to see his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Nonetheless, if the visit happens, it could be a significant step toward healing the rift within the royal family.