Monarch focuses on diplomacy amid renewed tensions between his sons
Buckingham Palace has issued an update following King Charles’s latest official engagement at Dumfries House, coming just as his younger son’s ongoing legal case has once again drawn Prince William and Catherine into public scrutiny.
The King, who recently met Harry for a private tea at Clarence House in what was viewed as a positive step toward reconciliation, now faces fresh strain within the family. The Duke of Sussex’s lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail began in London on October 1st, and court filings from Harry’s legal team unexpectedly referenced both the Prince and Princess of Wales.
According to the filings, private investigators allegedly spied on William around his 21st birthday and accessed phone data connected to Catherine. The claims have reignited speculation about the ongoing rift between the royal brothers.
While the legal case unfolds, King Charles has remained focused on his official duties. On Wednesday, the Palace confirmed that the monarch held a high-level meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia at Dumfries House in Ayrshire.
“The President of the Republic of Zambia visited The King at Dumfries House in Ayrshire,” the Palace said, sharing a photograph of the two leaders together. Although the Zambian First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, accompanied her husband on the UK visit, she did not attend the meeting.
For now, the King is keeping his attention on state matters rather than family tensions. Still, many observers will be watching closely to see whether his efforts at reconciliation with Harry can withstand the renewed strain brought by the court proceedings — particularly given the long communication gap that followed the Duke’s earlier legal battle with the UK Home Office.
