How Harry & Meghan's Call To King Charles Marks A 'Turning Point' In Strained Relationship

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's phone call to King Charles IIIon his 75th birthday has reportedly marked a "turning point" in the relationship between the Sussexes and the British monarch.

It comes after the duo were not seen attending the King's birthday and were reportedly left out of the guest list. Since turning up briefly for the King's coronation in May, Harry has not visited his father or brother, Prince Williams.

The Sussexes' relationship with King Charles could be on the mend after the duo reached out to the monarch to wish him a happy birthday.

The former senior royals were noticeably absent from the royal festivities, reportedly due to not getting an invitation. Nevertheless, they reached out to the monarch through a call, seen as an initial effort to rebuild ties with him.

While it's unclear what they discussed and how long it lasted, reports claim that the conversation was warm and heartfelt. It reportedly caused a positive change that might yield more fruits in the future.

Besides Harry and Meghan talking to the King, their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also sent their birthday wishes to their grandfather. They did so through a pre-recorded video where they were seen singing "Happy Birthday."

According to the Telegraph, this marks a significant "turning point" in the relationship between the monarch, his son, and daughter-in-law. 

Prior to the call, things had been pretty icy between Harry and King Charles, brought on by several factors over the last few years. Not only was Harry absent from the King's birthday celebration, but he also did not spend much time at the coronation back in May.

It marked the first time he returned to the U.K. since he attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth last September. At the time, he did not participate in the balcony appearance after the church ceremony and spent no time chatting with the King or his brother, Prince William. Once the coronation was over, he reportedly left for the airport to return to his family in California.

Harry's wife and kids were also noticeably absent from the event. Although it appears that Archie's birthday celebration, which coincided with the coronation, was the reason, many felt it was just an elaborate excuse to cover up for their absence.

In the meantime, there is still no news about whether Harry's relationship with his brother William will improve.

Last month, it was reported that he was not on speaking terms with the heir apparent and his wife, Princess Catherine. Another source recently shared that "there's no going back" for the brothers and that their perspectives have changed over time.

"These were two men who, once upon a time, were firmly aligned in their outlook. One of them had to move on to also protect the crown," the source told Hollywood Life. "There's a real chance here to learn and adapt to modern society and also make up for mistakes of the past."

The insider went on to say that Harry several individuals associated with the royal family now see Harry as a threat to the crown" and that "his freedom to exert his own thinking has made him the enemy."

Harry's troubles with the royal family escalated after he and his wife announced that they were leaving the royal family in 2020. It worsened even further after the release of their Netflix documentary "Harry and Meghan" and the Duke's memoir "Spare" shown the spotlight on some of the secrets of The Firm.

While his departure came as a shock to many, an interview from years back revealed that he had always wanted out.

"I spent many years kicking my heels, and I didn't want to grow up. I felt I wanted out, but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself," Harry said during the interview, per Daily Mail.

At the time, he also mentioned that he was still "determined to have a relatively normal life" and planned to give his children the same thing.