Prince Harry And King Charles Have Spoken Since UK Return — But They Still Haven’t Reunited In Person

Prince Harry and King Charles have spoken since the Sussexes returned to Britain, despite reports suggesting the father and son had not been in contact since Harry arrived back in the UK.

The Daily Express understands that Harry spoke to his father during the first week after returning to Britain with Meghan Markle and their two children on August 26.

However, the pair have yet to meet face-to-face, adding another layer of intrigue to Harry’s highly anticipated return to the UK.

Harry And Charles Have Spoken

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have confirmed that he and Charles did speak during the week the Sussexes arrived back in Britain.

The clarification comes after reports had claimed there had been no communication between them since Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet returned ahead of the new school term.

The family has otherwise maintained a remarkably low profile.

Harry has been the only member of the family seen publicly, appearing at Tower Bridge Studios on Friday for what was described as a “mystery” project.

There has been no public reunion between Harry and his father.

Palace Tensions Have Escalated

The clarification about Harry and Charles comes as relations between the Sussexes and the Palace have come under renewed scrutiny.

This week, the King’s position on Harry and Meghan’s status was formally restated in a letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain, the King’s most senior aide.

The document made clear that the couple remain non-working royals and should be treated as “private citizens”.

It also confirmed that they do not represent the Royal Family and cannot use their HRH styles.

The move followed reports that Harry and Meghan were looking to increase the number of public engagements they undertake in Britain, potentially with greater media coverage.

Sussexes ‘Surprised’ By The Letter

Harry and Meghan’s spokesman said the couple were surprised by the timing of the announcement.

“We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” the spokesman said.

Royal sources, however, have disputed the suggestion that the Sussexes were unaware of the letter before it was made public.

According to Palace sources, the document had been shared with the couple’s team ahead of publication.

The letter was sent to a select group of “key stakeholders”, including officials in Government, the military and Lords Lieutenant, as well as the Sussexes’ team.

The purpose, according to the Palace, was to remove uncertainty over Harry and Meghan’s position following their decision to return to Britain.

Why Charles Felt The Letter Was Necessary

The King is understood to have wanted the clarification issued after senior officials made a number of requests for guidance about how Harry and Meghan should be treated following their return.

The letter was intended to “help avoid doubt or confusion”.

That became particularly significant amid reports that the Sussexes were considering a more visible public role in the UK.

There had also been suggestions that they were willing for their appearances to receive media coverage resembling the Palace’s longstanding rota system.

Such reports appear to have prompted the King to draw a firm distinction between Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain and any return to official royal life.

For now, the picture is therefore more complicated than reports of a complete breakdown between father and son suggest.

Harry and Charles have spoken since the Sussexes came home — but they still have not sat down together in person, while the Palace has simultaneously moved to make one point unmistakably clear: returning to Britain does not mean returning as working royals.