Any decision to meet the Duke of Sussex could spark headlines, insiders warn
As King Charles III prepares for a high-profile visit to the United States, a familiar family question is resurfacing. Will he meet his estranged younger son while he is there?
The Duke of Sussex lives in California with Meghan Markle and their children, placing him geographically close as the King plans his trip. According to royal watchers, simply landing on American soil is enough to revive speculation about whether father and son might come face to face.
Richard Kay, editor-at-large at the Daily Mail, summed up the situation by noting that the visit will inevitably raise questions about whether the King will see his “wayward son” and grandchildren. He pointed out that Charles has met the children only once before, during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
A public relations source echoed the concern, saying the King is stuck in a no-win situation. Extending an invitation would instantly become a media event, but choosing not to do so would also generate headlines. Either outcome, the source said, would be treated as a major story, making the decision a genuine dilemma.
Charles last saw the Duke of Sussex in September, when Harry briefly returned to the UK for engagements. The upcoming US visit now represents the next realistic opportunity for a meeting, should both sides be willing.
The trip itself is historic. It will be the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the United States since Queen Elizabeth II accepted an invitation from George W. Bush in 2007. Against that backdrop, any personal reunion, or lack of one, is likely to draw as much attention as the official diplomacy.
