Prince Harry's Gift To King Charles During Reunion Hints At Where Monarch Stands With Meghan Markle

As Prince Harry takes a step toward reconciling with King Charles, it appears he is not yet ready to include his wife, Meghan Markle, in the picture.

On September 10, the Duke of Sussex reunited with King Charles at Clarence House in London for a private tea, marking their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024. 

After keeping the occasion private, the businessman has begun to reveal specifics, noting there was an exchange of gifts and dismissing claims that it was a formal event.

During the father-son reunion, subtle details hinted at Markle's standing within the royal family. Most telling was a framed family portrait, which a spokesperson later confirmed the Invictus Games founder had gifted to his father, notably excluding the Duchess of Sussex. 

“While we would have preferred such details to remain private, for the sake of clarity, we can confirm that a framed photograph was handed over; however, the image did not contain the Duke and Duchess," the spokesperson told PEOPLE Magazine.

The spokesperson further denied the allegations that the reconnection was “distinctly formal,” saying the reports are “categorically false.” They added, “The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son.”

With Harry’s possible reconnection with the monarch on the horizon, speculation is that his kids Archie and Lilibet may follow after. The 76-year-old ruler has only met the little kids a couple of times but is said to desire to play the grandfather role to them. 

Per The Blast, a royal source said that “The King wants to be a grandfather to his grandchildren, so that's an important pull.”

The insider continued, reflecting on the king’s time with the kids when they came over for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, noting he was extremely delighted to see them.

However, the chances of it happening remain unknown, as one main challenge is Harry's demand for armed police protection for himself and his family whenever they visit the U.K. 

Since he lost taxpayer-funded security after stepping back as a senior royal, this has been a point of contention. Still, insiders hint there may be room for compromise.

As for Meghan, her chances of reuniting with the royal family remain unclear. The Duchess of Sussex has not been back to Britain since Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022, a decision that many interpret as a sign of the deep strain between her and the monarchy.

Instead, Markle has centered her life in California, where she and Harry are raising Archie and Lilibet away from the royal spotlight. 

Earlier this year, the couple took their children on a trip to Disneyland, emphasizing their commitment to a more private and family-focused lifestyle.

Harry's recent sit-down with the King in London signifies meaningful progress in mending their strained relationship, with sources even labeling it the most significant step. 

The Blast reported that Queen Elizabeth's former spokeswoman, Ailsa Anderson, called it a "massive step in the right direction" and "a building of trust." Signifying that the father-and-son duo were intent on building trust, Queen Camilla was absent from the meeting. 

Royal commentators opined that the Queen’s absence was aimed at reducing tensions, given Harry’s past criticisms of her, accusing her of scheming for power and leaking stories to the press.

Despite the optimism that the rift between Harry and his family may end soon, The Blast reported that royal insiders have pushed back that the meeting was only an act of kindness from the king and nothing more. 

One informant said, "Whoever is behind them seems to have mistaken a brief tea and a slice of cake for the Treaty of Versailles."

As for other reports that alleged Prince Harry’s return is to take off the workload from his brother Prince William’s, informants say there is no truth to it.

A source suggested that the exaggerated claims coming from Harry and Meghan's camp are part of the reason the king and the wider brood remain cautious about making peace.