Advertisement
As the excitement from Prince Harry’s 40th birthday celebrations fades, all eyes are now on his upcoming trip to the UK, set for September 30. This visit could present a chance for him and his father, King Charles III, to mend their relationship, but achieving peace may prove to be more complicated than many hope.
Prince Harry celebrated his big 4-0 on September 15, and there was an unexpected public gesture from the Royal Family. Reportedly, King Charles III reached out to Harry on this special day. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl shared that sources close to the king insist that Charles made a personal call to his son, aiming to help repair their relationship. Despite this apparent olive branch, the bond between father and son remains fragile.
The upcoming WellChild Awards in London, where Prince Harry will be the guest of honor, could provide a prime opportunity for the two to meet face-to-face. However, royal experts suggest that a reunion may not happen easily. British broadcaster Helena Chard mentioned that King Charles is “thoroughly fed up” with Harry’s handling of his security requests, highlighting ongoing tensions about Harry’s security in the UK, which has been a point of contention since he stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Given this complex backdrop, royal watchers are accusing King Charles of wishing Harry a happy birthday merely because he turned 40, not as a genuine attempt to reach out. If that’s true, it would suggest that Charles might only extend birthday wishes again when Harry turns 50—definitely not the best look for the king, especially since public sentiment appears to be shifting in Harry’s favor among younger people in Britain.
An Ipsos poll found that 46 percent of respondents aged 18 to 35 support Harry returning to royal duties in the long run. If King Charles wants to maintain a positive image with the public, he needs to counter the perception of a hollow birthday greeting. Meeting Harry on September 30 could be a great way to do that, and rumors suggest that the king is indeed seeking a “mutually agreeable” time for a meeting. The big question now is whether Harry will seize this chance to bridge the gap with his family or further entrench the barriers between them.
There’s certainly a lot of tension between Prince Harry and King Charles. Harry’s relationship with the royal family has been strained since he decided to step back from royal life and move to California with Meghan Markle. His interviews and his memoir, *Spare*, have only added fuel to the fire, publicly airing family grievances. However, this September 30 could be a turning point for father and son, offering them a chance to end their public feud and deal with their issues behind closed doors—much like they used to do. It’s a critical moment for the royals, and the outcome is yet to be seen.