Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children visited with King Charles and Queen Camilla for the first time in more than four years.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the family reunited at the King’s private home in Gloucestershire, the Highgrove House, Friday afternoon in what they labeled a “private family occasion,” according to the BBC.
The King spent time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in what marked a significant step forward for the royal family. Their relationship has remained strained since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal obligations in 2020 and left the U.K. to begin a new chapter in Montecito, California.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – APRIL 9: TRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess Of Cornwall, attend the Service of Prayer and Dedication following their marriage at The Guildhall, at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005 in Berkshire, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Prince William and his family were notably absent from the gathering, the BBC reported. The Price of Wales was taking part in a match of charity polo in Windsor during the Highgrove visit. The brothers do not appear to have mended their relationship, and there are no reports of plans for them to meet during Harry’s stay in the UK, according to the outlet.
It’s unclear where Harry, Markle, and their children spent the night after sharing the evening with their estranged family.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 14: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (Anvam) in Southbank on April 14, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Meghan and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex are on a four-day visit to Australia, with engagements across Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. (Photo by Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images)
News of their royal visit came just days after Buckingham Palace reportedly declined Harry’s overnight stay. Harry’s team alleged security details were the reason for the missed opportunity. Palace officials reportedly thought there was too little time to settle staffing matters. (RELATED: REPORT: Buckingham Palace Withdraws Invitation For Prince Harry To Stay At Buckingham Palace)
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND – NOVEMBER 5: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall continue to laugh after a bumble bee took a liking to Prince Charles during their visit to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary on November 5, 2015 in Dunedin, New Zealand. The Royal couple are on a 12-day tour visiting seven regions in New Zealand and three states and one territory in Australia. (Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)
Harry attended a number of events in the UK in the days leading up to his family reunion. This is the first time his wife and visited UK with him since 2022, when they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the BBC reported. It’s also the first time the King has been with his grandkids since the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee earlier that year, according to Page Six.